Click here to view videos of the 2017 Sustainability Leadership Award Winners

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture last night announced the recipients of its prestigious 2017 Sustainability Leadership Awards. The Alliance honored Kellogg Company, Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy with the 2017 Collaboration of the Year Award and presented the 2017 Farmer of the Year Award to Arkansas rice farmer Jennifer James.

In their inaugural year, the awards—presented as the capstone of the Alliance’s fall meeting—recognize farmers and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding sustainability leadership through their efforts to advance continuous improvement in the sustainability of U.S. agriculture.

Collaboration of the Year
Recognizing outstanding collaboration and cross-sector partnership in advancing continuous improvement in sustainable agriculture at the field and landscape level, this year’s recipients of the Collaboration of the Year Award were honored for their collective efforts to deliver sustainable outcomes for agriculture in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay.

“Field to Market member organizations are continuously seeking better ways to engage and equip farmers and suppliers with resources to make lasting change for agriculture, society and our planet,” said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market. “Together, Kellogg Company, Syngenta and The Nature Conservancy are working to create a more sustainable supply chain by helping farmers document and demonstrate how conservation practices enhance natural resource management and support water quality both in Saginaw Bay and the larger Great Lakes watershed.”

By coordinating efforts through the Kellogg Origins™ Great Lakes Wheat Fieldprint Project, these partners are taking steps towards helping farmers make their fields more resilient and improve their bottom line, while improving the lands and waters of Saginaw Bay for generations to come.

Farmer of the Year
The Farmer of the Year Award, which is Field to Market’s highest honor for commodity crop producers, recognizes the extraordinary contributions of a farmer who is committed to advancing sustainable agriculture through outstanding conservation and stewardship efforts on their farm and sharing best practices with their peers. This year’s award was given to Jennifer James, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Newport, Arkansas.

“Jennifer manages her family’s 6,000-acre farm with sustainability at the center of her decision making and an eye toward future generations,” said Snyder. “Her leadership and commitment to sustainable agriculture is marked by her steadfast dedication to conserving natural resources and instituting practices that provide wildlife habitat while benefiting soil, water and air quality.”

The winners of the Farmer of the Year and Collaboration of the Year are selected by Field to Market’s Board of Directors and the Alliance’s Awards and Recognition Committee. All recipients demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of continuous improvement, resulting in measurable results and significant impact on both agriculture and the environment.

Learn more about the 2017 Sustainability Leadership Award winners at www.fieldtomarket.org/awards.

###

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production. Field to Market is comprised of more than 130 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion. For more information, visit www.fieldtomarket.org and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/FieldtoMarket.

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture™ is a leading multi-stakeholder initiative working to unite the agricultural supply chain in defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber and fuel production in the United States. We bring together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities; and public sector partners to create opportunities across the agricultural supply chain for continuous improvements in productivity, environmental quality, and human well-being. With the world population estimated to exceed 9 billion by 2050, the entire agricultural value chain must work together to efficiently and responsibly lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future. From the farm gate to the retail and restaurant counter, the challenge of producing enough food, feed, fiber and fuel for a rapidly growing population, while conserving our planet’s natural resources has become increasingly complex. The nature of this challenge requires an unparalleled level of transparency and collaboration. By uniting the agricultural supply chain and key stakeholders around a common measurement framework, Field to Market seeks to drive continuous improvement in the sustainability of commodity crop production.

More from Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture