A recent graduate of the John Innes Centre (JIC) Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement MSc, Theresa Cassandra Saini, has been awarded a John Innes Foundation-funded Nuffield International Farming scholarship.
Theresa said: “I am deeply grateful to have been selected as the first recipient of a JIF-sponsored Nuffield International Farming Scholarship. The scholarship is truly unique and being selected is a life-changing opportunity. I am extremely excited about what I will learn during the scholarship and to be part of a global network of like-minded agriculturalists.”
Theresa, who joined the John Innes Centre’s MSc course from Malawi, will investigate the global best practices in establishing local capacity for producing clean, disease-free cassava planting materials. The study will also focus on disease prevention, field health management, and processing techniques to enable the production of high-quality cassava starch and dried chips for export.
Prior to joining the MSc course, Theresa has worked as a Research Assistant at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and as a volunteer Research Scientist at Chitedze Research Station in Malawi, focusing on cassava breeding, disease screening, tissue culture, and clean seed systems.
The Nuffield International Farming Scholarship programme has supported more than 2,000 scholars from more than 16 countries since 1947, creating a network of agricultural leaders committed to innovation, sustainability, and knowledge sharing.
The programme will be completed over two years and will include a Contemporary Scholars Conference and a five-week Global Focus Programme, as well as the eight-week individual study travel project and final report. Together these activities will give Theresa and the 11 other recipients from across Europe, Africa, and Asia worldwide access to the scholarship network.
This programme fits perfectly with JIF’s mission: ‘To support research, education, public engagement and innovation in plant and microbial science to deliver societal, environmental and commercial benefit.’
Peter Innes, Chair of the John Innes Foundation, said: “Theresa’s Nuffield International Farming Scholarship is an excellent example of how investing in people and science can lead to meaningful, real-world impact, and we are delighted to support Theresa with this opportunity. Supporting talented scientists to apply their expertise beyond the laboratory and into global agricultural practice is a key focus for our Foundation.”
Partner quotes
“NISD is thrilled to support Theresa’s Scholarship project, which directly tackles the dual challenges of food security and economic resilience in Malawi. By bridging the gap between advanced biotechnological solutions—like virus-free tissue culture—and the practicalities of integrating small-scale farmers into cassava value chains for global export, this project aligns perfectly with our mission to foster sustainable, equitable agrifood systems. Theresa represents exactly the kind of transformative leadership needed to shift from subsistence to a competitive, value-added cassava industry. We look forward to the global insights this scholarship will bring back to the region.” Professor Arjan Verschoor, research coordinator at the Norwich Institute of Sustainable Development (NISD)
“I am delighted that Theresa received the first Nuffield International farming scholarship sponsored by JIF. Practising agriculture needs to get closer to science and vice versa and her interest in breeding is of particular relevance to all. Furthermore, Nuffield International has been looking to develop scholarships in Africa and Theresa will be a great asset to Malawi, as well as to the wider Nuffield International Network.” Christopher Graf Grote, Chairman of Nuffield International
“Everyone associated with the JIC MSc programme was excited to learn of Theresa’s success in securing this prestigious scholarship. Throughout her period of study Theresa impressed everyone with her knowledge and enthusiasm. The goals of our MSc programme, together with those of our colleagues at NISD, is to ensure that knowledge and scientific advances in crop science find useful applications in agriculture. This scholarship will enable Theresa to achieve her goal to provide virus-free material to Malawi’s cassava farmers and I’m sure she will prove to be a fantastic ambassador for JIC, NISD and Nuffield International.” Dr Colwyn Thomas, JIC Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement MSc Course Director
