To foster future leaders in agriculture, Gardiner Foundation sponsored two outstanding students, Emily de Haan and Luke Rathsmann, as Crawford Fund scholars for 2024.

This initiative, which Gardiner has supported annually since at least 2014, is part of its broader commitment to advancing the agricultural sector.

The Crawford Fund Annual Conference, an event focused on global food and nutrition security, took place mid-August in Canberra. This year’s theme, “Food and Nutrition Security: Transformative Partnerships, Local Leadership and Co-Design,” explored how high-quality research partnerships can be developed and sustained to have a meaningful impact both overseas and in Australia.

Emily de Haan, a 23-year-old Masters student in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne, hails from Gippsland, Victoria. With a deep-rooted passion for the challenges faced by farmers and the broader agricultural industry, Emily is eager to expand her knowledge and explore new career pathways within the sector.

“It was a big three days full of networking opportunities and I especially valued the chance to speak one on one with various industry professionals to gain a greater understanding of the various career pathways and opportunities out there,” Emily said.

“Being such a broad industry faced with global yet multidisciplinary challenges it can be overwhelming for a university graduate to understand the full extent of the career opportunities and industry needs.”

“Being surrounded by so many people making huge contributions to the industry has inspired and motivated me to enter a career where I can add value and assist with overcoming the lack of resources, we need to make a more sustainable food future for all.”

“We ‘don’t know what we don’t know’ and having the opportunity to listen to other people’s unique career journeys is a great way to increase our confidence and discover where we can add value to the industry,” Emily said.

Luke Rathsmann, who lives on his family’s cattle station in the Northern Territory, is also studying Agricultural Science at Melbourne University. With a strong background in agriculture, Luke is dedicated to learning more about sustainable farming practices and how they can meet the growing demand for food in the future.

“The Crawford Fund was an incredible experience which I was so fortunate to attend. Being a scholar at the conference has provided me with so many interesting and eventful future opportunities.”

“The assistance from the mentors made me fit in straight away with special guests, other scholars and mentors. The conference has improved my ability to network, expand my knowledge and ability to engage with the world in Agriculture,” Luke said.

On top of the conference, Emily and Luke also participated in additional activities, including two half-days of specialised events. They were paired with mentors and had the opportunity to engage with leading agricultural researchers, educators and fellow passionate young professionals who have experience in international agricultural development.

By being part of the Crawford Fund, Emily and Luke are furthering the knowledge, skills and networks needed to tackle the complex challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture.

To learn more about The Crawford Fund, visit: https://www.crawfordfund.org/