Carbon Farmer of the Year
Announcing the launch of the 2024 Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition
After the success of last year’s competition we are delighted to announce that the 2024 competition is now open for entries.
How to apply:
To apply or nominate a farmer or organisation you know, please fill in our application form here.
The closing date is Friday 14th June 2024.
Background
Carbon determines our global climate system. This is having increasing effects on how we live our lives and is shaping how we should conduct ourselves. There are the means to adapt to climate change whilst remaining productive and profitable, but sometimes we need pioneers to guide the way.
February of this year sees the launch of the 2024 Farm Carbon Toolkit’s Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition. This competition champions UK farmers who are leading the way in adopting farming practices and developing new technologies which reduce farm emissions whilst optimising output, and adapting to climate change. We extend our thanks to HSBC UK Agriculture for their kind support.
‘HSBC UK Agriculture is pleased to support Carbon Farmer of the Year award. We are very keen to support the industry in transitioning towards net zero and while that will take many forms, we have both the capital available and the ambition to help farmers fund investment in the new practices and technologies needed to evolve. These awards are a great way of showcasing just how farmers are achieving these changes already.’ Martin Hanson, Head of Agriculture HSBC UK.
Rewarding farmers
This competition is the only one of its kind which seeks to identify and reward those who are working hard to reduce emissions and remove carbon on farms.
We will be looking to reward those who are:
- implementing effective emissions reduction and mitigation practices
- adopting new technologies which are appropriate and beneficial
- providing inspiration for others to successfully emulate
For more than a decade FCT has been working to facilitate discussion and information-sharing between farmers and other actors on climate change and emissions within agriculture. This work has ultimately helped lead to changes in on-farm practice, but there are many farmers leading the way. Through this competition we will celebrate them and their achievements, and hopefully will inspire others on how they can best reduce emissions and build carbon stores on their farms.
Creating a carbon farming network
Network creation is of paramount importance and this competition aims to build levels of carbon literacy amongst farmers and land managers, while also raising the profile of the many effective ways in which on-farm emissions can be reduced and increased carbon storage can be achieved.
The Carbon Farmer of the Year competition allows for discussions on carbon emissions and sinks on farms to be framed in a very practical way. FCT plans to achieve this through on-farm events and workshops, discussions on new innovations in machinery and techniques, and by learning more about new research and linking into other projects.
The long term objective of this competition is to create a network of alumni who are changing their management practices to better manage emissions and carbon storage on farmland who will inspire others through activity, practical demonstrations and advocacy for changing management practices.
When and where?
Every year we will launch the competition in early February. The winners will be announced at our Annual Field Day in the Autumn. (Date and venue to be announced).
