The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), in partnership with McDonald’s UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce the recipients of the Breaking Barriers Scholarship, which is supporting eight 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 2025 Scholars programme.
Quadrupling the intake since the programme was launched five years ago, the 2025 cohort sees representation from a range of academic disciplines and industry specialisms, from animal nutrition and veterinary science, to sustainability and food system resilience.
The scholarship 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 a workshop event in collaboration with McDonald’s, an online interactive webinar, and in-person leadership and communication training.
Commenting on the landmark Breaking Barriers Programme, OFC Director and facilitator Jude McCann, who is supported by Sheena Horner and Navaratnam Partheeban said, “The Breaking Barriers programme is not just an initiative, it’s a movement towards transforming the face of agriculture. The increased interest and intake for 2025 demonstrate both the urgent need and growing desire for greater diversity in our sector.
“These eight exceptional individuals represent the future of agriculture – their unique experiences, academic backgrounds, and industry insights are exactly what we need to meet the challenges ahead. Diversity isn’t just a tick box; it’s a vital ingredient for innovation and resilience. We are proud to support their journeys and excited to see the contributions they will make to agriculture, food systems, and sustainability.”
