LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is offering the first in their yearly industry scholarships, financing up to £25,000 to businesses with the view of up taking sustainable farming systems.

The application window is now open for the LEAF Caroline Drummond Scholarship for Innovation in Sustainability, launching for the first opening year.

The scholarship was presented in honour of late Caroline Drummond MBE, who led LEAF from 1991 till her passing in 2022.

During each year the investment will provide funding of up to £25,000 towards creating Carolines vision of both environmentally sustainable farming and food production systems.

This year focussing particularly on Integrated Farm Management (IFM) practices, moreover, increasing knowledge of including practical regenerative or nature-based sustainability solutions held within a commercial farming unit.

CEO of LEAF David Webster highlighted: “Caroline’s enormous legacy was rooted in her inherent understanding of the need to ensure sustainability interventions are pragmatic and deliverable at scale through a commercial farm supply chain.

“We remain true to that principle and would encourage applications from any projects that have the potential to help accelerate the adoption of more sustainable farm management practices at scale.”

“We want to support new ideas, bright thinking and imaginative projects that will help the farming sector as a whole take action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Hearing from LEAF chair Philip Wynn he said: “As an inspirational thinker, innovator, collaborator and communicator, Caroline was the catalyst of great change in the sustainability of farming through Integrated Farm Management.

“She dedicated her working life to pushing forward new thinking and approaches to more natured-based farming. She was also deeply committed to developing talent and inspiring the sustainability leaders of the future.”

Applications now open until June 30, for applicants including farmers, farm business owners, universities, institutions, commercial companies, and individuals from non-profit organisations and charities.

These funds can be used on scientific, technical, or business development proposes.