Belinda Clarke wins the Caroline Drummond Award; Celebrating and Communicating Farming Excellence 2026

Agri-TechE is delighted to announce that our director has been named the winner of the Caroline Drummond Award 2026; Celebrating and Communicating Farming Excellence, recognising her contribution to agriculture, innovation and the connections between farmers, scientists and technology developers.

Launched in 2023 in memory of former LEAF Chief Executive Caroline Drummond MBE, the award celebrates individuals who share Caroline’s passion for advancing sustainable farming and communicating its importance to the wider world. The award is supported by the Society of Agriculture, the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists and LEAF.

“We had another strong set of entries for this year’s Caroline Drummond award from across the farming industry, but Belinda’s stood out for her continuing commitment to improving the way people farm and for conveying that to a wide audience with passion and enthusiasm,” said Cedric Porter, award chair and co-ordinator.

Belinda’s journey into agriculture began as a teenager, when, on hearing of her ambition to be an agronomist, a careers teacher advised her that farmers were unlikely to listen to a “slip of a girl” telling them what to do. Belinda followed a scientific route into agriculture, becoming a laboratory technician working on take-all disease of wheat and black rot of brassicas, and later completing a PhD in starch production in peas and potatoes. Her career has been defined not by telling farmers what to do, but by listening to them, understanding their challenges and creating better conversations between agriculture and science.

Twelve years ago, she founded Agri-TechE, creating a network that has grown from an initial concept into a global, revenue-generating organisation with members in the UK and internationally. Today, Agri-TechE is a trusted voice for agricultural innovation, helping technologies move from research and development into practical use on farms.

Simon Britton FASAg, Chair of the Society of Agriculture, said: “Belinda demonstrates the value of leadership that connects scientific knowledge with the practical needs of farming businesses. Through Agri-TechE, she has made innovation accessible and encouraged farmers to explore how new ideas can improve their businesses and environmental performance.”

Agri-TechE has pioneered initiatives including the annual REAP Conference, Agri-Tech Week, agri-tech business plan competitions, hackathons and practical “on-farm” experiences designed to help innovators understand farming from the farmer’s perspective. From lettuce harvesting rigs to muddy fields, these initiatives have brought together farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers to explore real-world challenges and develop practical solutions.

On receiving the award, Belinda said: “The joy at winning this lovely award is, of course, tinged with sadness that I’m not enjoying a celebratory drink with Caroline herself, but instead accepting an award in memory of her life and reflecting on her extraordinary contribution.”

She continues “Communicating and celebrating the excellence in our industry provides important bright spots at what is a challenging time for the sector. I only wish Caroline were here to see her long-held vision of environmental management and farming working hand-in-hand reflected in today’s farming policy.”

Belinda received her award from Philip Ward, Caroline’s widower, at the Society of Agriculture Conference in London on 5^th November.