Orford dairy farmer Rachael McGrath has been named a 2027 Nuffield Scholar, supported by Gardiner Foundation.
Over the next 18 months, Rachael will undertake international travel to investigate what drives the successful adoption of technology on dairy farms. Her research will explore innovations including virtual fencing, cow wearables and advanced reproductive technologies, with a focus on overcoming the barriers that prevent their uptake.
For Rachael, receiving the scholarship marks the next step in a journey that has gradually taken her beyond her own farm gate and into the wider dairy industry.
“Nuffield has actually been in the back of my mind for a long time,” Rachael said.
“Years ago, Paul Bethune, a 2004 Nuffield farmer and fifth-generation dairy farmer, told me that one day, when I was eligible, I should apply for a Nuffield Scholarship. At the time I probably didn’t have the confidence to imagine myself actually doing it, but that comment always stuck with me.”
A turning point came while completing her Certificate IV in Agriculture at RIST, when Rachael joined the UDV/VFF Gardiner Foundation New Zealand Dairy Study Tour in 2019.
“I really see that trip as one of the doors that opened me up to the wider dairy industry,” she said.
“Until then, my world had largely been our own farm and the people immediately around me. Suddenly I was meeting other farmers, seeing different businesses and being exposed to opportunities I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.”
Rachael’s research topic grew from considering where technology could make a practical difference within her own farming business.
“There is some incredible technology in dairy now, and I can see so many places where it could potentially make a difference. It could save labour, help us make better decisions, improve how we manage individual cows and, importantly, give us some time back,” she said.
“But knowing a technology exists and actually getting it successfully onto a farm are two very different things. I want to understand why adoption is successful on some farms and not others, what those farmers and technology providers are doing differently, and what we can learn from that here in Australia.”
Rachael hopes to return with practical knowledge she can apply on her farm and share throughout the wider dairy industry.
“For me, technology should solve a problem, not create another one. If we can get adoption right, I think technology has a huge role to play in making farming more efficient, sustainable and rewarding for the people doing it.”
While the research will be central to her scholarship, Rachael is also looking forward to meeting farmers around the world, experiencing different agricultural systems and continuing to build confidence in her own voice.
“I certainly don’t expect to come home with all the answers, but I hope I come home asking better questions, with practical ideas I can bring back to our business and knowledge I can share with the wider industry.”
Rachael is one of 14 Australian agricultural leaders awarded a 2027 Nuffield Scholarship. Each scholar receives a $40,000 bursary to support international research and travel before sharing their findings with industry.
The 2027 scholars were announced at the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Darwin on 9 September 2026.