Farming Futures gets the gong!

Trudging through the snow yesterday in our wellies was just like any other day for the Farming Futures team. We’ve held many a workshop in the snow, freezing cold, gusting winds or driving rain. But yesterday was a little different – underneath three pairs of socks, two jumpers and a coat that I could have climbed Everest in, I was wearing a posh frock and had high heels in my handbag. We were on our way to the Natural History Museum to pick up an award for our work.

Winning the ‘Green Award’ for ‘Best public sector campaign’ is the culmination of a lot of hard work that has taken us on a journey from a small, six-month awareness-raising project five years ago to becoming the leading climate change communications project in the agricultural sector. When we began in 2006, climate change wasn’t on the agricultural agenda at all; five years on and the issue is a priority across agriculture and is being researched by the brightest and best in agricultural science, informing future CAP reform, and influencing consumer behaviour.

Here we are with our award!

It’s been a hell of a ride. We’ve been knocked over by livestock, shouted at by farmers desperate to get into one of our solar workshops, negotiated our way through agri industry politics, and (some of us) have had burly men eye us up and down in bemusement, wondering why a London girl would be up in North Yorkshire to talk about farming.

For us, it’s a great pat on the back for all the hard work we’ve put in - especially as we were sharing the stage with some hugely talented people, including Sir David Attenborough! But more than that, it’s a great tribute to all the people we work with. Firstly the rest of Forum for the Future, where Farming Futures sits – a bunch of incredibly talented people who every day sit down to the task of changing the world for the better.

Secondly, our partners: the NFU, CLA, AIC, FWAG, LEAF, levy boards and Defra, who work with us to make sure we have access to the latest thinking, research and people.

But last, and not at all least, we have to pay tribute to the farmers and land managers we work with. It's one of greatest pleasures of this job to work with and share the stories of those farmers who are already taking action on climate change. I've often had to remind non farming people that farmers are first and foremost businessmen - and the ingenuity, entrepreneurialism, intelligence and commitment we've seen would keep any 'Apprentice' out of Alan Sugar's boardroom.

We receive the award with a touch of irony – as you may know, our Government funding has been cut. We hope to secure funding from another source in order to continue our work. If you have any ideas – get in touch!

Madeleine Lewis co-manages the Farming Futures project. You can contact her on m.lewis@forumforthefuture.org