The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) has opened applications for the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Awards 2024.
There is a €15,000 overall prize fund for all farmers, foresters, entrepreneurs, innovators and community groups who are meeting the climate change challenge through their work.
Winners receive €2,000 and an RDS Silver Medal, runners-up will receive €1,000 and a certificate of merit.
The awards celebrate the work of individuals, farm families and organisations who are enhancing the economic, environmental and social development of Irish agriculture and rural communities.
For over 160 years the RDS sustainability awards have highlighted efficient and productive Irish farmers with the focus being on increasing productivity.
Since then they have acknowledged the need for a new measure which balances economic development and social sustainability.
There are five categories of the awards including:
- Sustainable Farming;
- Sustainable Rural Enterprise;
- Sustainable Rural Innovation;
- Sustainable Rural Start-up;
- Rural Social Impact.
The winners will be announced at the RDS Spring Awards in the RDS Concert Hall early next year.
2023 awards
Norman Dunne, from Co. Kildare took home the Sustainability Farming award for 2023.This award recognises efforts to sustainably develop farm activities through new product development, entrepreneurship, marketing and improved efficiencies.
Honestly Farm Kitchen in Co. Roscommon won the Sustainable Rural Enterprise award which awards people making important contributions to the environmental, economic and social development of rural Ireland.
BiaSol located in Co. Offaly attained the Sustainable Rural Innovation award which recognises people who have applied science and technology to aid climate-smart agriculture.
Woolow from Co. Galway won the Sustainable Rural Start-up award which awards new businesses in early development.
The fifth award went to The Grow Dome Project from Co. Dublin which won the Rural Social Impact award .
This award is for non profit or voluntary groups promoting sustainability for their community.
Application forms for the 2024 awards are available through the RDS website.