October 8th 2024.
At this year's Helping It Happen Awards, 11 Scottish businesses were honored for their contributions to rural life. Among them was Angus Growers, a co-operative consisting of 16 soft fruit producers mostly from the regions of Angus, Perthshire, and Fife. They were presented with the prestigious Innovation in Farming Award for their commitment to environmentally-friendly practices.
Since 2013, Angus Growers has made significant strides in reducing their carbon footprint, with a remarkable 30% decrease per tonne of soft fruit. They have also set a goal to cut food waste by 50% by 2030, and are well on their way to achieving their goal of using 100% recyclable packaging. This is a commendable effort by Angus Growers to promote sustainability in their industry.
Another deserving winner was Claxton's Whisky, who received the Rural Business Award for their work on the Dalswinton Estate. Their efforts in revitalizing old farm buildings have not gone unnoticed, and they continue to make a positive impact on the rural landscape.
IndiNature, a forward-thinking company, was recognized with the esteemed Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change. They have established a mill in the Scottish Borders to manufacture biobased materials, specifically hemp grown at local farms, which is then turned into natural fiber insulation for both new and old construction. This innovative approach to sustainable building materials is a great step towards combatting climate change.
The Conservation Award was presented to Grosvenor Reay Forest Estate Project Laxford, for their work with The Atlantic Salmon Trust to restore wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout populations in the River Laxford catchment. Their dedication to preserving the local ecosystem is truly commendable.
Wallace Currie, a lecturer in agriculture at Scotland's Rural College, was the recipient of the Rural Rising Star Award. His work in creating a new model of teaching, incorporating work placements into the curriculum, has had a positive impact on the agriculture industry.
According to Sarah-Jane Laing, the chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, the Helping It Happen awards are a way to publicly recognize the often overlooked heroes in rural Scotland. These individuals and organizations play a crucial role in sustaining the rural communities and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
The awards ceremony was a night of celebration, and all the winners and nominees were deserving of the recognition. It is heartening to see the efforts of these individuals and businesses being celebrated, and we can only hope that their actions will inspire others to make a positive impact in their own communities. To read more inspiring stories like these, subscribe to the latest issue of Scottish Field.
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