Agriculture is an industry engrained into the very foundations upon which the UK was built. With ever increasing demands, research needs to be a key focus to allow the industry to continue to grow and develop. Peredur Owen, Agricultural Development Officer, recently delighted everyone at Dunbia when he was awarded two industry scholarships.
Receiving £3000 funding, Peredur was the proud recipient of one of two HCC (Meat Promotion Wales) scholarships, to study a particular topic within the red meat industry in another part of the world, in order to improve their personal development within their chosen field as well as the wider red meat industry. Scholars also join the HCC Scholarship Association, a well-respected network of past scholars who work together to share industry knowledge, best practice and guidance.
In addition to this, Peredur was awarded a further scholarship, for £500 from the Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Fund. Overseen by NFU Cymru, the scholarship commemorates Gareth who was a NFU Council delegate, chairman of the NFU Cymru education committee and was passionate in the belief that travel was of vital importance for the education and development of young people.
The trip, which Peredur plans to make in the near future, will see him travel to North America to better understand the use of antibiotics in the beef industry, including the traceability and recording systems in place with antibiotic usage. Whilst the trip will focus primarily on the beef industry, all findings will be transferable and beneficial to the lamb industry also, with a key emphasis on the benefit this will bring to the meat industry across the UK. When not working at Dunbia, Peredur works at his family’s farm in Carmarthen where he is keen to implement the findings of his study to effectively streamline whilst increasing efficiency and performance rates.
Speaking on his success, Peredur commented;
“America’s antibiotic usage within agriculture and the beef industry in particular, has gained a lot of media attention and is highly topical at present, so I will also be aiming to investigate this thoroughly on my travels. With these scholarships, I will be able to go beyond the headlines and see what goes on in the American beef industry for myself, from breeding and genetics to anti-biotic usage and traceability right through to consumer opinion.”
We wish you every success on your upcoming research trip, Peredur and look forward to hearing more on your return!
