The Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability
The Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability is back! In 2022 BASF celebrated 20 years of sustainability initiatives with the Hinchliffe family at Rawcliffe Bridge. To commemorate this anniversary and celebrate the farming community's commitment to sustainability, the Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability was born. This award celebrates the essential role that farmers play in food production and recognises their commitment to environmental stewardship.
We know farmers face numerous challenges, from unpredictable weather to evolving policy, and through the Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability, we aim to recognise farmers who confront these challenges and show their resilience with a commitment to sustainability. We want to collaborate with growers who are on their sustainability journey and whose future plans prioritise sustainable practices, integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations.
Share your sustainability story
Resilience and sustainability go hand in hand. We want to learn how sustainability is integrated into your farming practices, whether you have been making changes for years or are exploring new approaches to assess their impact.
At BASF we believe that sustainability incorporates the three key pillars: environment, society and business profitability.
These can look different on different farms and can mean different things to different people which is why we want to hear from you.
Examples of some initiatives
Climate resilience, water management, crop diversification, nature and biodiversity restoration, investment in people on and off the farm, supporting and advocating for the farming industry, education outreach, soil regeneration, diversification and SFI adoption.
Enter the 2025 Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability
Entries are now open for the 2025 Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability and we’d love to hear from anyone embarking on a mission to make their farm more sustainable and resilient.
You don’t need to have it all ‘sorted’. The award is open to anyone who’s committed to making people, planet and profit and the prize includes money-can’t-buy advice from our Sustainability Network and our partners Andersons and the Country Trust.
Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability 2025
We want to be able to work with you, the winners, to move your sustainability journey forward. You will have access to BASFs Global Sustainability experts, become members of BASF Sustainability Farming Network, allowing you to learn and share knowledge from peers and experts. As well as a commemorative award plate we will also host you at the Oxford Farming Conference.
The Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability is subject to Terms & Conditions.
Partners
The Andersons Centre
The Andersons Centre traces its origins back to 1973 when Andersons the Farm Business Consultants started providing business advice to British farmers. November 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Andersons being formed.
Today, our consultants support around 2,000 farmers across the UK, advising on a range of issues including managing costs, financial planning, joint ventures and succession planning to maximise profitability and performance. In addition to our strong presence in the farm business consultancy market, we have expanded to offer services to businesses and organisations throughout the food and farming industry both domestically and internationally.
What sets us apart from other farm business consultancies is our Business Research team which provides economic and market analysis covering all aspects of agriculture. This unique combination of practical farming experience and insightful research provides a strong basis for our publications which include the industry renowned ABC Agricultural Budgeting and Costing Book, the John Nix Farm Management Pocketbook, and the Professional Update briefing service.
The Andersons Centre also offers a diverse range of seminars and training to agricultural professionals. Our Spring Seminars have become a must-attend event for many in the farming sector.
Find out more north_east here
The Country Trust
Since 1978, we have been bringing food, farming, and countryside experiences to children whose potential is only limited by their access to opportunities. We work with children from low-income families, those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN/D), young carers, refugees, and children excluded from mainstream education. By connecting them with the land that sustains us, we aim to equip them with the knowledge and skills to improve their lives and contribute positively to society.
Our work spans four core programmes: Farm Discovery Day Visits, Countryside Discovery Residentials, Food Discovery, which teaches children to grow, cook, and explore food, and Farm in a Box, an innovative initiative that brings the farm to the classroom. In 2023, we launched the Plant Your Pants soil health campaign, which has engaged thousands of children nationwide, helping them explore the vital world beneath our feet and appreciate soil.
Find out more north_east here
Rawcliffe Bridge Award 2023
In July 2023 arable farmers and brothers from Cambridgeshire, Matthew & Lloyd Smith, were announced as the winners of the award reflecting the impact of their farming philosophy on people, planet and profit. Mixed enterprise farmer Will Oliver was announced as the runner-up.
Rawcliffe Bridge Award 2022
In July 2022, Colin Chappell, arable farmer from North Lincolnshire and Guy Prudom, mixed farmer from North Yorkshire, were announced as the inaugural winner and runner-up of BASF’s Rawcliffe Bridge Award for Sustainability. We visited them in June 2022 to see how sustainability was impacting their farms.
