Dairygold’s commitment to sustainability was recognised last week at two separate award ceremonies, with the Co-op picking up four awards across several categories at the two events, as well as three further wins for Dairygold members.
At FBD’s Better Farming Awards held on Thursday night in The Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Co. Laois, Dairygold picked up awards in two different categories. Their successful Grassroots Milk Supplier Sustainability Bonus Programme was recognised, winning the award for ‘Best Incentive Scheme from a Food Producer’, while also picking up an award for ‘Large Sustainable Food Producer of the Year’.
On the night, Dairygold tillage supplier Tom Barry, recently announced as the Teagasc Enterprise award winner for his work improving soil health and reducing artificial fertiliser usage on his farm, was awarded ‘Environmental Farmer of the Year’ and winner of the ‘Overall Farmer of the Year’ award.
Dairygold grain supplier, Michael Quirk, was also successful, picking up the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award. Earlier this year, Michael signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Dairygold to supply 5,000 MWh per year of renewable solar energy to Dairygold from Lurrig Solar Farm, located on his farm in Aghada in Co. Cork.
At Ireland’s Climate Change Leadership Awards held in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Dairygold was awarded ‘Food Company of the Year’ and ‘Manufacturer of the Year’, as well as being finalists in the ‘Education Provider of the Year’ category and the ‘Sustainable Transport’ category.
Speaking about the award wins, Dairygold chairperson, Seán O’Brien, said they were ‘incredibly proud’.
“These awards are a strong endorsement of Dairygold’s dedication to embedding sustainability into everything we do, across our operations and on farms. We are incredibly proud of everyone involved in helping us achieve this recognition and we will continue to work together for a sustainable future for Irish agriculture.”
