Mila Gordon-Creed

I’m in my final year of study, on the BSc (Hons) Agricultural Management top-up at the Royal Agricultural University. I’m not from a farming background, but have close friends who are both arable and dairy farmers.

Alongside the core modules, Integrated Farm Project, Emerging Issues in Agriculture, and the Research Project (dissertation), I chose to study Climate Change and Development, Farmland Ecology, New Developments in Agricultural Science, and Rural Business Diversification

I wanted to learn more about the issues facing livestock and farming in general so that I could begin tackling some of its problems.

I was initially interested in a career in conservation. I spent a year in Africa, where I became particularly interested in rhinos, and decided to study a Foundation Degree in Animal Management and Applied Science. That course, however, made me realise that there are millions of animals right on my doorstep that need help and attention. I wanted to learn more about the issues facing livestock and farming in general so that I could begin tackling some of its problems.

To me, farming is the perfect mix of working with both animals and people to help preserve the environment. My dissertation is about ‘meat buying trends in the UK’ and is a survey of people’s attitudes to meat, with a particular focus on their understanding of organic and free range. It’s been a steep learning curve this year but well worth it!