OTTAWA, Ont. – Two people each from Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia have been selected as 2025 Nuffield Canada Scholars.
The four recipients will each receive a $20,000 scholarship to challenge themselves in self-directed research programs with international travel and experiential learning thanks to Nuffield Canada and its sponsors.
“The Nuffield journey is life-changing for scholars as they travel the world to research and develop expertise that will reshape our Canadian agricultural sector with innovation, global perspectives and thought leadership,” says Steve Larocque, Chair of Nuffield Canada and 2008 Scholar.
Scholarship recipients can come from all areas of primary production, industry, or governance of agriculture, and are required to do a minimum of 10 weeks of travel study within 24 months to examine and research an agriculturally relevant issue of their choosing. Each scholar prepares a written report of their research findings and then presents a summary to the Nuffield Board, with peers, sponsors and industry leaders in attendance.
Nuffield Canada Scholar Reports are available free of charge on the Nuffield web site. Scholars are also available as speakers and panellists to share their learnings to industry, stakeholders and beyond.
The 2025 Nuffield Canada Scholars
Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel is from Mossbank and is well known for her involvement as a former director and president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, international director for the Global Farmers Network, workshop facilitator for Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, and as a speaker and advocate of modern-day farming. Jolly-Nagel’s Nuffield topic will study the impacts of renewable energy infrastructure on agricultural land, in terms of both production and land value.
Jenna Sarich is from Craik and shares her position as a technical consultant and analyst for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) and Public and Stakeholder Engagement – a program of the Canadian Cattle Association. Sarich’s Nuffield topic will study the environmental sustainability of beef cattle systems and the importance of a holistic view when assessing environmental indicators.
Chris van den Heuvel is from Port Hood, N.S., and is well known for his years on the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Chris has spent more than 20 years as a senior systems analyst specializing in Microsoft programming languages, portal-based solutions, and interfacing between heterogeneous platforms. van den Heuvel’s Nuffield topic will examine leveraging open-source technology for agricultural efficiency, reducing equipment cost of ownership, and overcoming repair barriers.
Georgia Lewis is from North Alton, N.S., and is the Technical Lead for the On-Farm Climate Action Fund where she manages the delivery of the OFCAF program to both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Lewis will explore poultry manure management techniques and processing for crop nutrients: A pathway to a sustainable circular economy. Georgia is sponsored by Burnbrae Farms Foundation.
