A crop protection company from north-west England has won a European award for its work with farmers to help protect and enhance the environment.
Environmental Crop Management (ECM) has been named European winner of the Environmental Respect Award, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the agriculture division of DowDuPont.
The company was then put forward to a grand final in Washington, USA, where ECM was recognised further by being awarded the Environmental Crop Management Ambassador of Respect award.
The awards programme has run since 1990 to honor crop protection retailers and distributors for demonstrating excellence in environmental stewardship.
Winners have consistently demonstrated how they have gone above and beyond to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing the environment while ensuring productive, profitable agricultural practices.
Judges praised ECM for its pioneering approach to on-farm projects focusing on climate change and biodiversity.
The company has shown innovation with a number of projects working with more than 1,200 farmers on strategic approaches to crop protection and integrated pest management.
At its base near Warrington ECM has installed many bird boxes and feeding stations in the hedgerows to demonstrate the success of some of the environmental practices it encourages.
Corteva’s UK and Ireland country leader Adrian Gough said: “Thousands of businesses work alongside farmers to provide products and services and these companies have a vital role to play in influencing future farming practices.
“ECM, along with many others who entered this award, have shown leadership on what environmental stewardship is all about.
“Farming and the environment have to work together if agricultural businesses are to be profitable and productive.”
ECM’s owner Peter Clare was presented with the award at the Cheshire Ploughing Match.
He said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised for our work with farmers to create farming systems that minimise any environmental damage while providing safe food for consumers across the UK.
“We have demonstrated that profitability, respect for biodiversity and best environmental practice can be mutually compatible.”
It has been a very successful month for the company which is also receiving a Green Apple Award at the House of Commons for its protection of water project.
