In 2001 David was honored to be awarded a Nuffield Scholarship. The Scholarship was to research how UK farmers might work to reconnect the supply chain and to assess what benefits might be gained by so doing. He wanted to understand what lifestyle and consumer trends were taking place around the globe. In this he was doubly fortunate, for not only did he have his own personal study tour, he was also invited to be one of the two UK Scholars to join in with the Asian Tour arranged specifically for Australian and New Zealand Scholars. The result was his report: Reconnecting the Supply Chain, 2001.

His research was fed into the Sir Don Curry-led industry review in 2002. The report was also involved in the Regional Delivery Plan for the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food.

Nuffield has changed David's life both in the knowledge learned but more importantly the friendships developed around the world.