The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) has recognised six members of the agricultural community for their outstanding contributions to farming for food, people, the environment and profit.
The winners were announced at the annual RASE Awards Day on Thursday 7th September, which took place at the Royal Windsor Estate.
David Grint, CEO at RASE, shares that the 2023 celebration outstrips previous awards days, with more individuals being recognised and more guests in attendance. “Bringing people together to celebrate the leaders in the industry and to be inspired by what can be achieved is what these awards are about,” he says.
This year, the prestigious Bledisloe Gold Medal, which is supported by Evelyn Partners, was awarded to Dr. Johnny Wake in recognition of his management of Courteenhall Estate.
“Dr. Wake puts community, sustainability and legacy at the heart of every decision made, demonstrating an exceptional model of best practice,” says Mr. Grint.
Each award winner has contributed to the agricultural industry by pushing the boundaries of what is possible to farm in a way that is sustainable, viable and profitable, which enables others to prioritise the future while farming today. The other award winners are:
- Rob Havard received the Excellence in Practical Farming award, in recognition of how he has used his farming knowledge and his experience as a trained ecologist to farm sustainably – both in a financial sense and an environmental one. This award was supported by Trinity Natural Capital Pro Council.
- Dr. Alastair Leake received the National Agricultural Award, in recognition of his leadership of The Allerton Project, which has pioneered and popularised farming with nature. This award was supported by Savills.
- Professor Rob Edwards received the Science and Technology Award, in recognition of how he has championed the interaction between the farming industry and academia. This award was supported by Trinity AgTech.
- Brothers Paul and John Cherry were the first-time winners of the Farm of the Future Award, in recognition of how the Groundswell event has promoted regenerative agriculture and instilled confidence in many farmers to start their journey towards more sustainable farming systems. This award has been introduced to recognise and champion both the individuals and innovations that will enable the agricultural industry to achieve net zero emissions. The award was supported by Virgin Money.
“We are most grateful to the award supporters and also The Crown Estate’s Windsor team for hosting such an inspiring day to celebrate the best achievements in agriculture,” concludes Mr. Grint.
