European Recognition and SIMA Innovation Awards

Early this November Hometree Charity received European recognition SIMA Farming award for Environmental Innovation in Paris. This was a huge moment for us! We received this award for our Farm-Forest Project. This project aims to preserve the environment, connect and help farmers introduce tree systems onto their productive farms as part of a European Program funded by the Department of Agriculture.

SIMA Farming Awards are run in partnership with AXEMA and the Nuffield International network. The new European competition rewards and reveals the most innovative European agricultural practices from among the show’s farming visitors.

This year seven winners out of the 14 nominees have been designated for their sustainable transition approaches and their ability to demonstrate the societal, economic, and environmental impact of their innovation.

It is a stellar work within the farming community. Landowner engagement and vision led by Ray Ó Foghlú, Hometree’s Landowner Engagement Coordinator, ecological impact held by Meadhbh Costigan, planning and integrating all she knows in a graceful way, Matt Smith, Hometree’s General Manager, and Mitch Corbett, Hometree’s Tree Nursery Manager, for the tree planting, vision and coordination, and Manus Crowley for the tree designs, applications and his mountain of knowledge in a space we are just learning about!

This award came at the perfect moment just before we launched The Wild Atlantic Rainforest Restoration Project, our most ambitious project to the date. Receiving this award was a wonderful message that we are capable of holding the duality of land protection whilst still serving the community.