A FARMER from Cornwall was a finalist in the Carbon Farmer of the Year competition. 

But it was Doug Christie, from Durie Farms, Leven, Fife, Scotland, who took the overall prize in the 2023 awards. 

However the three other finalists were: 

  • Anthony Ellis from Pensipple Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall

  • Craig Livingstone and Matt Bloor from Lockerley Estate and Preston Farms, Broughton, Stockbridge, Hampshire

  • Thomas Gent from Oakley Farm, Tydd St Giles, Cambridgeshire

Judges of the competition, Adam Twine, David Cope, Emily Norton and Liz Bowles said they were very impressed by the commitment and innovation shown by all the finalists in identifying sources of GHG emissions and developing strategies to reduce emissions and increase the rate of carbon removal into soils and non-crop biomass.

A spokesperson for Farm Carbon Toolkit, organisers of the competition, said: "The Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition aims to recognise and champion farmers, sector organisations and businesses who are leading the way in adopting farming practices and developing new technologies which are helping to reduce farm emissions whilst optimising output.

"This year’s winner stood out to the judges for his dogged determination in identifying how best to reduce emissions, whilst reducing reliance on those external inputs which he realised long ago came with unintended consequences. When Doug started his journey towards a low emission, regenerative farming system, it was far from popular.

"All our finalists have made great strides in reducing business reliance on fossil -fuel based fertilisers and fossil fuels through changes to their farming practices and careful soil management to reduce GHG emissions."

The objective of the Carbon Farmer competition is to create a network of people who are changing their practices to better manage emissions and carbon storage on farmland.

The hope is that this will help to inform others of the effective ways in which on-farm emissions can be reduced and increased carbon storage can be achieved. 

Emily, farmer and chair of the Advisory Board for Soil Association Exchange, added: “I was interested to see the range of approaches being taken by the finalists and was delighted that so many businesses were brave enough to put themselves forward to be judged on something which is a relatively new concept for agriculture."

Next year's competition will be launched in February 2024.