BASF launches sustainability competition

This month sees the launch of BASF’s sustainability competition, The Rawcliffe Bridge Award.

The aim of the competition is to celebrate the great work that farmers are already doing to reach their sustainability targets, as well as challenging them to think about how they will improve in the next twenty years.

BASF has a long-standing legacy of investing in the arena of agricultural sustainability.

Their sustainability farms at Rawcliffe Bridge and The Grange have already hosted farmers, industry stakeholders and influential policy makers to demonstrate how profitable farming and environmental sustainability can work hand in hand.

“It was our work at Rawcliffe Bridge which sparked the idea of the competition”, explains Mike Green, Agricultural Sustainability Manager.

“This year, we celebrate our 20th anniversary at Rawcliffe and we have been reflecting on what we have learnt and how much agricultural has changed over the past two decades.”

Sustainability from all perspectives

One of the things the competition is keen to recognise is how growers are tackling sustainability from all perspectives. This means considering not only the environment, but social and financial sustainability also.

Richard Price, Estate Manager at Tetworth Hall Estate and trustee of the Institute for Ag Management explains:

“Farms need to be profitable to be sustainable. What’s more, they need people to run them. We are keen to hear how businesses are engaging with the next generation to ensure the longevity of their business.”

The Institute for Ag Management and Farm491 are both partnering with BASF to support the competition. Sarah Carr, Head of Farm491 says:

“This competition is a fantastic way to celebrate the excellent work that farmers are already doing.

“We see it every day in Farm491, how innovations can be used to improve environmental sustainability. This is an area of the competition which we are particularly excited to learn more about.”

© BASF

How do I enter?

BASF welcomes entries from all types of farmers, big or small, mixed or arable.

There will be a short online entry form, which asks you to explain a little bit more about what sustainability means on your farm and how you have made changes already to improve your long term sustainability.

It will also ask about the future, what challenges you foresee and how you are making plans now to adapt.

As a thank you, all entries will receive a Biggest Job on Earth t-shirt from BASF. Once entries have closed, a short-list will be drawn up and visited by our expert panel of judges, comprising of representatives from BASF, Farm491 and the Institute of Ag Management.

Based on these visits, a winner will be announced who will be awarded with a bespoke ceremonial plate at BASF’s 20th anniversary celebrations for Rawcliffe Bridge this summer.

In addition, the winning candidate will be offered a free ticket to the Institute of Ag Management’s annual conference, as well as access to the expert network offered by Farm491.

For more information and to enter, visit The Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability.