Kathryn Fleay

2021 Scholarship winner

Kathryn Fleay from Mingenew, Western Australia, receives a Nuffield Scholarship supported by CSBP Fertilisers.

Kathryn is Operations and Agronomy Manager at Living Farm, a private agricultural R & D company, in York, WA. They provide field trials for the grains industry, providing independent research for the WA grains sector, as well as farmer extension and project management.

Working to improve farm sustainability, Kathryn is passionate about ensuring all Australians have a strong understanding of food production, the supply chain and factors affecting production, to bridge the gap between consumers and the agricultural sector.

“During my time in Mingenew, I have been involved in coordinating agricultural school programs at the local primary school, and although most students come from farms themselves, I saw firsthand how limited their basic knowledge of agricultural production was,” Kathryn said.

“If we’re to address future workforce challenges and create innovative solutions to problems within the industry, it’s critical that as a sector we’re educating consumers and promoting career pathways in agriculture from an early age.

“Agriculture is an ever-evolving industry with production methods, technology and markets constantly changing. If we’re to ensure future sustainability and prosperity within the sector, we must focus on educating its future workforce and consumers.”

Kathryn will explore how new technologies are being incorporated into agricultural university courses across the United Kingdom and the United States, and also the factors driving agricultural production in the European Union.