Laois dairy expert and academic awarded prestigious Nuffield Scholarship

Zoey McKay from Ballyfin in Laois has been selected as one of four Irish professionals to receive a prestigious Nuffield Ireland Scholarship which will commence in 2025. 

Nuffield Ireland’s mission is to discover, inspire and support people to develop their capacity, character and confidence to promote positive change and world class leadership in agriculture, food and farming and is part of Nuffield International, a valuable global network which includes Nuffield organisations in eight countries.

Zoe grew up in the farming community of Ballyfin Co Laois and now lives in Ballina Co Mayo with her partner Michael where they are dairy farming.

Zoe graduated with a BAgrSc in 2015 and completed her PhD in dairy production in 2019, both from UCD. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Grass and Forage Science in the School of Agriculture and Food Science in UCD.

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Within this role Zoe is the Programme Director for the undergraduate degree programme Sustainable Food Systems and leads a grassland research programme at UCD Lyons Farm.

Additionally, Zoe was a founding member of Dairy Women Ireland and held the role of secretary for a two-year term.  

As a 2025 Nuffield Ireland Scholar, Zoe’s research topic “Future Grasslands for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation: What are the options for Ireland?” aims to evaluate grassland strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change and increase the sustainability of Ireland’s grass-based production systems. 

Zoe was selected alongside Marina Conway, forester from Sligo and former CEO of Western Forestry Co-op; Majella McCafferty, from Leitrim farming stock and Farm Advocacy Manager at the National Dairy Council (NDC); and Seamus McMenamin, from a sheep and suckler farm in West Tyrone and Sector Manager for Sheep meat and Livestock at Bord Bia.

Joe Leonard, Chair of Nuffield Ireland said: “We are thrilled to welcome our new scholars to the 122-strong Nuffield Ireland community of agricultural leaders. They will research respectively agroforestry in the Irish context; linking dairy production efficiency to consumer behaviour and market trends; future grasslands for climate mitigation and adaptation; and finding alternative income streams to make sheep farming attractive to new entrants.  All those topics are timely, relevant and can directly support Irish agriculture and food in meeting their economic, climate, environmental and social obligations.”

2024 Nuffield Ireland Conference The new scholars will attend the upcoming Nuffield Ireland Annual Conference ‘Shaping the Future of Irish Agriculture’ sponsored by premium investor, FBD Trust. The annual event which takes place in the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Carlow on Friday, November 15 will include a fireside chat on leadership in agribusiness with former Group MD of Glanbia plc, Siobhán Talbot.

It will also hear from six returning Nuffield Scholars who will present the findings of research on a number of evolving issues which are shaping the future of Irish agriculture.

“The Nuffield network purpose is to identify potential agricultural leaders, support them through a demanding two-year programme of self-development, networking and research travels, to come back with findings, conclusions and recommendations which will help to shape the future of Irish agriculture.  Our conference is open to all, from alumni to potential candidates, agribusiness stakeholders or anyone with a deep interest in the future of Irish agriculture. We look forward to an engaging and thought-provoking day”, Joe Leonard concluded.

Speaking at the launch, Michael Berkery, chairman of FBD Trust said: “FBD is delighted to continue our partnership with Nuffield Ireland as sponsor of this year’s conference and scholarships. Nuffield scholars regularly go on to become key drivers of change and innovation in farming, the agri-industry and the food sector. As a founding member of Nuffield Ireland, we are proud to support the next generation of agri-leaders, and we wish them luck as they embark on their Nuffield studies.”