Future Farming Scotland scoops top award

Soil Association Scotland's 'Future Farming Scotland' programme has won one of RSPB's prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards.

At the recent Nature of Scotland Awards ceremony, the 'Future Farming Scotland' programme took home the prize for the 'Food and Farming' category.

Future Farming Scotland provides information sessions, DIY farm trials and resources for farmers, growers and crofters across Scotland, supporting them to explore techniques that are good for the environment as well as for their businesses. The award was given in recognition of the partnership approach taken, and the impact on key areas, ranging from soil health and horticulture to grassland management, reaching hundreds of farmers each year.

Now in their fifth year, the Nature of Scotland awards celebrate the people, projects and organisations across the country working to protect Scotland’s internationally renowned precious wildlife and habitats. The Food and Farming Award was a new category for 2016.

Lyn White of Soil Association Scotland and Emily Grant of Quality Meat Scotland accepted the award on behalf of the programme.

Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland, said:

"The judges had a tough job to do with such a high calibre of entries to this category, but the Future Farming Scotland project really stood out to us. Developing and promoting sustainable farming practices which work in harmony with nature, as this initiative does, is so important for delivering environmental benefits like clean air and water, as well as rich habitat for wildlife and of course good, healthy food for us to eat. Soil Association Scotland are very worthy winners this year and their success at these awards is truly deserved."

Laura Stewart, director Soil Association Scotland said:

"We run the Future Farming Scotland programme in partnership with a range of organisations, and with the participation and support of farmers, crofters and growers from across Scotland. We are delighted that this award has recognised the hard work that we and all our partners put in, sharing and exploring sustainable farming techniques that are both great for business and great for the environment. It was wonderful to see such a range of exceptional work taking place on food and farming across the other initiatives shortlisted too – we are proud to be among such good company."

Funding for this activity is made available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (which is jointly funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union), with partner funding from Quality Meat Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, Innovative Farmers and The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.

Visit the Soil Association website for more information.

Other Nature of Scotland Awards 2016 winners include James Hutton Institute - Magic Margins, Mull Eagle Watch and Leith Community Crops in Pots.

For more information on the Nature of Scotland Awards visit the RSPB website.