Baroness Batters wins prestigious award for outstanding industry service
Minette Batters, former NFU president and now crossbench peer, has been recognized with the National Agricultural Award by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (Rase) for her exceptional leadership in the agricultural industry. The award was presented at the annual Rase awards day at Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire, alongside five other prestigious awards.
Minette Batters, now Baroness Batters of Downton, was praised for her rise from Wiltshire county chair to NFU president, where she served for three consecutive two-year terms. Andrew Wraith, head of food and farming at Savills, lauded her championing of the needs of all agricultural sectors and her ability to unite the industry to advocate for the benefit of all. Despite challenges such as Covid, Brexit, and market pressures, Minette’s honest and hands-on leadership style has been unwavering, leaving a lasting legacy in the industry.
Lord Hertford was also honored at the event, receiving the Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners for his remarkable achievements in managing and developing the Ragley Estate in Warwickshire. Since 1991, Lord Hertford has implemented significant changes focused on Sustainability and profitability, including regenerative farming techniques, energy-efficient systems, and community engagement.
Additionally, other award winners at the event included David Miller for Excellence in practical farming, Dr. Simon Griffiths for Science and Technology, David Brass for Farm of the future, and Angus Gowthorpe for Natural capital. Each recipient was acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields within the agricultural industry.
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.