New Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards launched
New Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards were launched today, Tuesday, January 9 by Teagasc, with generous support from FBD.
The aims of the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards are to promote environmentally sustainable farming and highlight the progress that farmers are making to reduce their impact on the environment, while continuing to produce high-quality, nutritious food, in a profitable manner.
Irish farmers produce high-quality, nutritious and healthy food to feed a growing global population. Producing this food in an environmentally-sustainable fashion is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Irish farmers currently. While there is much coverage of the environmental challenges faced by Irish farmers, we hear less about those farmers who are doing a great job farming in an environmentally-friendly manner, about the positive stories of farmers taking steps on their farms to reduce their farm’s environmental footprint, while continuing to produce high-quality food.
Encouraging farmers to feel that they can play their part in meeting the environmental challenges is an important step on the journey to a more sustainable future. We hope that these awards can help farmers, consumers and Irish citizens to be proud of the great work undertaken by Irish farmers.
Watch the below video for more information on these awards:
Speaking at the launch, Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, highlighted that the awards will recognise farmers who are operating sustainable, profitable farming systems, whilst incorporating the latest scientific developments and technologies on their farms, thereby reducing their greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and improving soil health and carbon.
“The Environmental Sustainability Awards will recognise best farming practice,” according to Michael Berkery from FBD. Michael Berkery went on to say that: “It will be the Oscars of sustainable farming, highlighting best practice in environmental sustainability while continuing to maintain output and profitability from good farming.”
The prize money for these awards is generous, with €30,000 in prize money. The overall award winner will receive €10,000. This competition is open to farmers from all of the main enterprises – dairy, beef, sheep and tillage. The closing date for entries is Thursday, 29th February 2024. The awards will be presented in October of 2024. The overall sponsor of the awards is FBD Insurance. They are supported by ICBF, Bord Bia, and AgNav.
Apply to the awards here.
Photo caption: Pictured at the launch of the New Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards today, Tuesday, 9th January by Teagasc, from (l to r): Tom O’Dwyer, Teagasc; Professor Frank O Mara, Teagasc Director; Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc; Michael Berkery, FBD; Mary Dunphy, FBD; and Pat Dillon, Director of Research, Teagasc.