Carbon determines our global climate system. This is having increasing effects on how we live our lives and is shaping how we should conduct ourselves. There are means to adapt to climate change whilst remaining productive and profitable, but sometimes we need pioneers to guide the way.
Latest News: FCT’s 2026 Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition is now open for entries!
This March sees the launch of FCT’s 2026 Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition. The competition champions UK farmers who are leading the way in adopting farming practices and developing new technologies that reduce farm emissions – whilst optimising output and adapting to climate change. We extend our thanks to HSBC UK Agriculture for their continued support.
How to apply
This year we have made it even easier to enter. You can either:
- Nominate a business you believe we should consider
- Submit a short film to complete the entry form
- Complete the entry form online
To apply or nominate a farmer or organisation you know, please fill in our application form here:
The closing date is Friday 10th July 2026.
Martin Hanson – Head of Agriculture, HSBC UK
“HSBC UK Agriculture are pleased to support the Carbon Farmer of the Year award alongside Farm Carbon Toolkit again in 2026. Showcasing the achievements of UK farmers, as they adopt farming practices to help reduce farm emissions and adapt to climate change. The HSBC UK Agriculture team is committed to supporting our customers and the wider industry, as they adapt to the challenges of climate change and the opportunities of the transition.”
Rewarding farmers
This competition is the only one of its kind that seeks to identify and reward those working hard to reduce emissions and remove carbon on farms.
We will be looking to reward those who are:
- implementing effective emissions reduction and mitigation practices
- adopting new technologies which are appropriate and beneficial
- providing inspiration for others to successfully emulate
For more than a decade FCT has been working to facilitate discussion and information-sharing between farmers and other actors on climate change and emissions within agriculture. This work has ultimately helped lead to changes in on-farm practice, but there are many farmers leading the way. Through this competition we will celebrate them and their achievements, and hopefully will inspire others on how they can best reduce emissions and build carbon stores on their farms.
Creating a carbon farming network
Network creation is of paramount importance and this competition aims to build levels of carbon literacy amongst farmers and land managers, while also raising the profile of the many effective ways in which on-farm emissions can be reduced and increased carbon storage can be achieved.
The Carbon Farmer of the Year competition allows for discussions on carbon emissions and sinks on farms to be framed in a very practical way. FCT plans to achieve this through on-farm events and workshops, discussions on new innovations in machinery and techniques, and by learning more about new research and linking into other projects.
The long term objective of this competition is to create a network of alumni who are changing their management practices to better manage emissions and carbon storage on farmland who will inspire others through activity, practical demonstrations and advocacy for changing management practices.
When and where?
Every year we will launch the competition in early March. The winners will be announced in the Autumn (date and venue to be announced).
Last year’s winners and finalists
2025 Carbon Farmer of the Year Overall winner:
Stuart & Helen Rogers, Longmoor Farm, North Dorset (Dairy farmer supplying Waitrose)
You can read a case study about Longmoor here.
2025 Carbon Farmer of the Year Runners-up:
- Malcolm & Catherine Barrett, Tregooden Farm, Cornwall (Beef and arable farm)
- Richard & Lyn Anthony, R&L Anthony, South Wales (Arable and forage, plus contracting)
Competition judges Steve Dunkley (HSBC UK), Liz Bowles (CEO Farm Carbon Toolkit) and Joanne Sharpe (Farm Carbon Toolkit Non-exec director) were very impressed with the commitment and innovation shown by all the finalists in identifying sources of GHG emissions on their farms and developing strategies to both reduce emissions and increase the rate of carbon removal into soils and non-crop biomass.
