Dani Darke, Jon Pemberton, Lisa Portas and Alan McDermott – 2025 Nuffield reports.

(Image. Left to right: Dani Darke, Jon Pemberton, Lisa Portas, Alan McDermott). 

Rural Leaders is pleased to share the 2025 Nuffield Scholars’ Individual Research Reports.

The 2025 Scholars: Dani Darke, Lisa Portas, Jon Pemberton and Alan McDermott* have undertaken research on a diverse range of topics, each addressing significant challenges and opportunities in Food and Fibre.

Take a read of the reports and their summaries here.

Individual topics covered are as follows:

Dani Darke: Dani’s report ‘Rethinking Beef: Evolving to a Market-Led, Sustainable and Scalable Beef Industry in New Zealand’, makes the case that NZ’s beef profitability depends on strategic segmentation, not chasing premium chilled markets.

Go to Dani’s Nuffield report.

Jon Pemberton: Jon’s report ‘Reputation versus Reality in NZ: Searching for our North Star’, argues that New Zealand’s freshwater crisis is not a science or technology problem but an institutional one.

Go to Jon’s Nuffield report.

Lisa Portas: Lisa’s report ‘Strong Wool, Stronger Returns’, examines why New Zealand’s strong-wool sector struggles to capture value despite producing a sustainable fibre.

Go to Lisa’s Nuffield report.

Alan McDermott* Alan’s report, ‘Melting the Poles: Health and Wealth Through Food’, will be available later this year. His report will look at how we can act to transform our food system to address environmental, health and inequity outcomes, while ensuring thriving farmer livelihoods.

*Alan’s report will be available after his Nuffield travel is complete later this year.

We’d like to acknowledge those who have contributed their time and experience to the Scholars, especially our investing, programme, professional, media, and academic partners.

Primary Purpose, CountryWide Media, Agri HQ Farmers Weekly