The World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) and Nuffield International Farming Scholars have joined forces to strengthen the voice of young farmers in the global agenda on agriculture by implementing joint capacity building actions for future farming leaders.
Education is at the centre of all professional experiences, and soft skills acquisition and intellectual capital management are crucial for succeeding in a highly intense, competitive environment requiring a diverse knowledge and high-level specialisation.
Both organisations recognise the critical role of younger generations for an effective and sustainable transformation of food systems and promote the importance of education and professional growth and development of young farmers.
"Young farmers of the world present a huge goldmine that can provide the solution to the main challenges of the 21st century. It is of utmost importance that young farmers understand their role in shaping the future of agriculture. To this extent, in 2017, we launched, in close partnership with Bayer, the Gymnasium. Now at its second edition, the Gymnasium is a high-level capacity building programme aimed at training young farmers to make them become future leaders in the agricultural sector " said Theo De Jager in his capacity of the WFO President.
Jodie Redcliffe, Interim CEO of Nuffield International and CEO of Nuffield Australia, highlights the synergies between both organisations in this new partnership. "The mission of the World Farmers Organisation is to bring farmers’ voices to the global dialogue on agriculture, and how it intersects with community and sustainability, Ms Redcliffe said.
“At Nuffield, we inspire individuals to make a difference in the world of agriculture by providing scholarships to challenge thinking, encourage innovation, and ensure knowledge transfer, both locally and globally across primary industries. We look forward to working closely with WFO to achieve our shared objectives”.
Under the new agreement, WFO and Nuffield International have committed to implementing joint capacity building actions for future farming leaders, as well as influencing and encouraging governments and policymakers to acknowledge young farmers as crucial actors in the global agenda on agriculture.
The first partnership activity will include a Nuffield/WFO Webinar on Wednesday 27 May, featuring WFO Secretary General Arianna Giuliodori, who will share the work of the WFO to Nuffield Scholars around the world, including their Gymnasium program and The Climakers. This new partnership represents the beginning of a fruitful joint path towards achievements and results for young farmers.
