Oxford Farming Conference reveals 2023 Breaking Barriers Scholars
The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), in partnership with McDonald’s UK and Ireland, has revealed recipients of the Breaking Barriers Scholarship, which is supporting five individuals aged under 30 years old, who identify as Black or Person of Colour (BPOC), to attend the Conference in January as part of the 2023 Scholars programme.
More than doubling in intake, the 2023 cohort sees representation from educational institutions The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) at Cirencester, Hartpury University near Gloucester as well as from Harper Adams University in Shropshire and from industry.
The successful candidates, who were able to demonstrate a passion for the sector, ambition to advance their skills, and desire to embrace valuable networking opportunities include Ahsan Ahmad Awan, a Masters Student at the RAU, currently conducting research on migrant farming communities in the UK and Wonga Matubatuba, a final year student studying BSc in Agriculture at Hartpury University.
The scholarship, now entering its third year, looks to support diversity and inclusion within the agricultural industry by offering candidates the opportunity to attend the Oxford Farming Conference as well as participate in a pre-event programme with mentoring, bespoke events and materials such as books, to support their future career journey. They also benefit from the Scholars Programme more broadly, which includes training and a celebratory event to mark a ten-year partnership between McDonald’s UK and Ireland and OFC.
OFC Director and facilitator Navaratnam Partheeban said: “Having an agricultural sector that attracts and retains a rich mix of people is vital if we are to futureproof our changing industry, but as it stands, it is the least diverse in the UK. Estimates of numbers of BPOC people in British agriculture vary between 0.8-1.2%, and despite perceptions that it is interest standing in the way, the reality is that there are several obstacles inhibiting progress, which we, as an industry, must work to dissolve.
“The Breaking Barriers Scholars represent a group of young people with the potential to thrive in the sector, and it is a privilege to provide them with networks, resources and opportunities exclusive to the programme that otherwise, they may not have access to.”
The other three successful candidates are
- Faith Mohammed, a Masters Student studying Agricultural Science and Production Systems at Harper Adams University.
- Kandarp Joshi studying a BSc. Hons in Business and Management at Brunel University.
- Hakeem-Abdul Ojo, working as a procurement analyst based in London, having completed a MSc International Agribusiness and Food Chain Management at Harper Adams University.
