R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today, as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar podcast, which aims to share the stories of Nuffield UK Alumni, we welcome Liz Bowles and Jim Baird. 🌍✨ Jim Baird, a dairy farmer from Lanark 🐄, shares his journey from studying entrepreneurship through Nuffield to becoming vice-chair of Nuffield UK. He discusses his focus on regenerative agriculture 🌱, rotational grazing, reducing chemical inp...

Today we welcome Craig Davison and Jeff Miller onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ This episode dives into agricultural education, a topic that’s booming in the UK but has been well-established in the US for years. 🌾📚 With Craig’s experience in Scotland and Jeff’s academic leadership in Arkansas, we explore the contrasts and opportunities in ag education between the two nations. Craig shares his journey from Sc...

Today we welcome Ben Williams onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Ben has had a fascinating career spanning education, sustainability, and now as one of the directors of the Oxford Farming Conference. His journey has been anything but straightforward, moving from teaching to working in agriculture and sustainability, always driven by a passion for making things better. 🌍✨ Ben shares his experiences of working i...

Today we welcome Tom Turner onto the R2Kast! From using TikTok as a tool to gain clients in a previous role to now working with KWS, Tom’s journey is one full of adaptability and strategic moves! 📱🌱 We chat about his transition from an agricultural consultancy role into agronomy, his experience in business development, and his passion for crop management. Tom shares how he has navigated challeng...

Today we welcome Ben Andrews back onto the R2Kast! 🌱 Ben, an organic farmer from North Herefordshire, joins us once again to chat about his farming journey, biodiversity, and how his Nuffield research is shaping his views on agriculture. We dive into Ben’s passion for biodiversity and how organic farming has evolved on his family farm over the past two decades. 🦉 He shares how his land managemen...

Today, as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series, we chat to Simon Beckett, a third-generation farmer from a family with a deep-rooted Nuffield legacy. His father, Alan Beckett, was a Nuffield Scholar in 1957, and Simon continued the tradition in 1987 with a study on motivation in middle management.  Even Simons daughter Holly has done Nuffield, making it three generations of Beckett...

Today we welcome Tom McVeigh onto the R2Kast! 🚜 Tom has been making big changes on his farm, transitioning away from traditional methods and diving into nut farming, a less common but increasingly valuable crop in the UK. We explore how he’s reshaping his farm, the challenges of introducing nut trees into British agriculture, and the long-term vision for this shift. Tom shares the lessons he’s le...

Today we welcome Will Blake onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ With so much of this series focusing on farming, it’s important we also bring in more voices from the  food industry —and Will is the perfect guest to do just that! 🍽️ Will has spent years working in  hospitality across both the UK and Oman , gaining experience in high-pressure kitchens and learning what makes a truly great food experience....

Today we welcome Oli Fletcher onto the R2Kast! 🎥 From growing up on a small dairy farm to studying history at Oxford, Oli has taken a unique route into the world of agricultural advocacy. His YouTube channel,  Farming Explained , dives deep into complex debates surrounding food production, sustainability, and rural life. 🚜 Oli doesn’t shy away from controversy—his content tackles everything...

🎉  Episode 300!  A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the R2Kast journey over the past four years—your engagement has made this possible! Here’s to the next 300! 🎧 Today, we welcome Megan Rowland, a passionate advocate for sustainable land management, deer management, and crofting in Scotland. Growing up on a croft in Orkney, Megan’s journey took her from vegetarianism to a d...

Today, we chat to Roisin Taylor, a passionate advocate for sustainable food systems and a 2023 Nuffield Scholar. Roisin’s journey into agriculture is anything but conventional—growing up in rural County Durham, she spent a decade working on farms before diving into academia, where her interests in anthropology and social structures led her back to the land. 🌱 Her Nuffield Scholarship focuses on t...

Today we welcome Alex Crawley onto the R2Kast! A former  Gurkha officer , Alex’s journey has taken him from military service to counterterrorism work in the Middle East. Despite these extreme careers, he now faces his biggest challenge yet—farming. 🌍 Even while working abroad, he found ways to connect with food—growing olives on a rooftop in the Middle East and even rearing quail on a third-...

Today we welcome David Oates onto the R2Kast! 🌱 David is a seventh-generation organic farmer in Cornwall, running a farm focused on Welsh Black cattle, conservation grazing, and direct consumer engagement. Having grown up with a farm shop, he has a deep-rooted belief in the importance of bridging the gap between farmers and the public. 🚜 Beyond farming, David has been actively involved in outrea...

Today we welcome Barbara Bray onto the R2Kast. Barbara’s career in food and nutrition is nothing short of extraordinary, spanning global consultancy, policy work, and leadership in the agri-food sector. 🍏 Barbara’s journey began in food procurement before taking her to Uganda, where she worked on post-harvest technology, helping to improve food security. Her deep understanding of food systems led...

Today we welcome Dave Kennedy onto the R2Kast. Dave is a lowland sheep farmer and personal development coach, bringing together two unique worlds with one powerful message: resilience and growth. 🌱 Dave shares the story of a traumatic experience in his late teens that shaped his life. Feeling he needed to make a change, he embarked on a journey of personal transformation, both mentally and physic...

Today, as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series, we chat to Emily Norton, a passionate advocate for climate-focused policy and the future of farming. 🌍 Emily discusses her journey into agriculture, growing up on a mixed family farm and experiencing the challenges of succession and intergenerational farming firsthand. Her early experiences shaped her dedication to building a more sustaina...

Today’s guest is Dr Jonny Hanson, who joins us to explore the fascinating yet contentious topic of rewilding—a subject that’s been making headlines just last week. 🌿 Jonny shares his journey growing up in Northern Ireland and Malawi, experiences that shaped his passion for the environment and agriculture. His academic journey includes a PhD focused on community forestry in Nepal, highlighting his...

Today, we welcome Fraser Searle onto the R2Kast podcast. Fraser is a fascinating mix of social media star, sandwich enthusiast, and all-around creative. Having grown a massive following online, Fraser shares his journey from his early days in content creation to becoming a full-fledged social media sensation. 🌟 Fraser’s rise to fame began with a passion for making incredible sandwiches. What star...

Welcome to another episode of R2Kast – People in Food and Farming! This time, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Laura James, a dynamic advocate for sustainable farming and biodiversity. Laura's journey from a childhood dream of saving the whales to becoming a bee scientist and champion for farming communities is nothing short of inspiring. 🌿 We explored her career, starting with her ac...

Today’s guest is Andrew Richardson, a leading figure in aquaculture who is making waves in sustainable food production. From his extensive experience in the seafood industry to his innovative outlook, Andrew shares his journey into this vital and ever-growing sector. 🌊 We dive into Andrew’s work in aquaculture, including his involvement with Salmon Scotland , where he champions the role of salmon...

In this episode of the "Tales of a Nuffield Scholar" series, we chat to Hannah Batty, Hannah Fraser, and Tom Pearson, who share their unique insights and experiences from their Nuffield journeys. 🌍 Hannah Batty A vet and Clinical Director, Hannah’s Nuffield study focuses on creating better team management on UK dairy farms to enhance animal welfare and profitability. 🐄 Hannah Fraser A medical do...

Ben Lowe’s journey into agriculture is nothing short of inspiring. From having no farming background to managing a diverse enterprise in Aberdeenshire, Ben has proved that determination and innovation can lead to incredible success. 🌱 Starting with a passion for farming fostered by visits to his grandad, Ben’s early career saw him working on farms, building a sheep flock, and even gaining equity...

Today’s guest is Sioned Davies, a true powerhouse balancing her role on the family farm, her career as a barrister, and her involvement with Nuffield. 🌍 Sioned shares her journey growing up on a mixed livestock and arable farm in Mid Wales, where she developed a deep connection to the land. Alongside her family, she’s involved in diverse farm enterprises, including a broiler chicken unit and a be...

Today’s guest is Peter Green, a Cornish farmer, finance expert, and space science enthusiast. This is the second episode of Series 5 and the first food and farming episode of the season! 🌱 Peter shares his incredible journey, from growing up on a sixth-generation farm in Cornwall to earning a Master’s in Space Science and eventually returning to the family farm after tragedy struck. His passion f...

Today we’re diving into the second episode of Series 5 of the R2Kast, but this is the first Food and Farming episode of the series! Mathilda Allison and Laura Sutton are here to get us started with a bang, sharing their passion for farming, building communities, and their podcast, Behind the Barn Door . 🌾 Mathilda’s got this incredible ability to connect with people and make farming feel relatabl...