Sophia Mansell
2024 | Agriculture
In honour of Clive Sisley
Hi, my name is Sophia. I’m a dairy farmer on the South Coast of New South Wales.
In 2024, I received a Global Footprints Scholarship and, with that, I chose to go to the Netherlands and New Zealand, seeing firsthand how innovation and technology are shaping the future in ag.
I chose the Netherlands because it is recognised as a world leader in dairy robotics, technology and innovation.
What stood out to me the most was how closely farmers connected with their local communities. Many farms had vending machines out the front of their properties, which sold their own cheeses and ice creams.
Some farms even had milk taps connected to their milk vats, where locals could ride their bikes to the farm, fill their reusable containers with fresh milk and simply tap their card to pay.
It was a great example of how farmers are adding value to their products while building strong relationships with their community.
And, of course, an added benefit was the amazing sights and windmills I got to explore while being there before heading to New Zealand.
Halter had to be the standout for me in New Zealand. Seeing the virtual grazing with absolutely no strip fences, no, like, grazing fences at all. Just simply boundary fences.
You can put the cows into areas you otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach. It would be too hard. No herding required. Absolutely insane how amazing the technology is.
All directed off your phone through sounds and vibrations. It purely directs the cows back home to the dairy.
It was extremely impressive to see how technology is helping improve efficiency, animal management and farm productivity, while giving farmers greater flexibility in their day-to-day operations.
Beyond the technology and innovation, one of the most valuable aspects of the scholarship was the people I met along the way.
The opportunity to build networks, learn from industry leaders and hear different perspectives has had a lasting impact on me. The experiences challenged me to think differently and gave me confidence in the opportunities that exist within agriculture.
Personally, I cannot thank Global Footprints enough. They are absolutely amazing and the BBM team have helped me so much.
I will never, ever forget this opportunity and I am so thankful to everybody who helped me along the way.
Sophia’s scholarship relates to these UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs):