91Pro

Promising postgraduate student wins NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Centenary Award

Posted 4 November

A promising postgraduate agricultural student at 91Pro has been selected to receive a Centenary Award bursary from The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

MSc International Agri-Business and Food Chain Management student Jemima Brown, from Derbyshire, is one of four students from across the UK who have received this year’s award.

The Centenary Award was launched by rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010.

It aims to support agricultural leaders of the future, and champion research and innovation within the industry. This support is offered through annual bursaries, which pay up to 75 per cent of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture. Since the introduction of the award, 56 young people have received help to further their education thanks to a bursary.

Jemima is undertaking her Master’s in Agri-Business on a full-time basis over one year, studying national and international agricultural markets determine how UK supply chains could be more effective and transparent, from farm to fork.
She said: “My course will look into how agricultural businesses are managed and maintained and how that produce enters the food chain. I want farmers to be treated fairly in all walks of life and to be paid fairly for their produce and services.

“My goal is to use my knowledge to advise farmers on how to maximise their business, ensure they are getting the best from what they have and guide them throughout their careers to ensure they have the best all-round support they can.”

Announcing the award’s recipients for 2024, Jim McLaren MBE, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “Our Centenary Award bursary scheme supports NFU Mutual’s responsible business ambition to protect rural lives and livelihoods, by championing research and innovation for the UK agricultural industry, whilst also supporting passionate individuals to advance their careers.

"We’re very pleased that our award is continuing to attract high quality applicants who are studying at a broad range of universities across the UK.

"I would also like to thank the award’s judging panel, who dedicated their time and expertise to carefully select our recipients.”

Centenary Award bursaries will again be available in 2025. Applications for the award next year will be invited from the start of January, and information about the scheme can be found on the by searching ‘Centenary Award’.

Prospective postgraduate agricultural students who would like to find out more about the 2025 bursaries can contact centenary_award@nfumutual.co.uk.