BASF Agricultural Solutions has won the Crop Science Award for the Best Public Outreach Programme category for its public advocacy campaign,Farming, The Biggest Job on Earth.
The awards were presented by S&P Global Commodity Insights and recognise excellence in the crop protection and digital agriculture industries worldwide.
Farming, The Biggest Job on Earth, is a global campaign which aims to support farming by raising public awareness and understanding of farming practices through events and storytelling.
Support
Ali Milgate from BASF says: The campaign places farmers and farming at its core.
We have hosted a Biggest Job on Earth fun fair stand at agricultural events, including LEAFs Open Farm Sunday, which was visited by over 3000 people from all over the UK.
The interest in farming is so strong, and its been heart-warming to see the level of support for farmers, fascination in how they produce our food and manage our nations landscapes.
Podcast
As part of its UK campaign, BASF has launched the Biggest Job on Earth podcast. Each episode takes a theme central to farming and incorporates interviews with farmers themselves and others involved in the food production supply chain.
The first episode Wheres your bread at includes interviews with Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Ward, who is an open and honest ambassador for farming, East Lothian farmer and miller, Angus McDowall and a third-generation Lincolnshire baker, Pete Welbourn.
Its a lovely celebration and explanation of the challenges and rewards of the UK cereal harvest and the products that we make from it, says Ms Milgate.
Knowledge
The podcast is available on all platforms and future episodes will share the successes and challenges that farmers face, demonstrating their true societal impact. Two more episodes will be launched this year the first focuses on managing personal resilience during challenging times, the second will be a series of interviews with farmers who produce our Christmas dinner.
BASF will partner with LEAF to relaunch why farming matters materials to be available to primary school pupils across the UK to learn about the science, knowledge and the effort that goes into food production.