A dive into the murky world of carbon markets has seen Farmers Weekly editor Andrew Meredith named as the winner of the Environment & Rural Affairs category of the 2026 BGAJ Awards for Agricultural Journalism.
Sponsored by ABP, with a generous prize of £500 for the winner, Andrew investigated a hot topic in agriculture: carbon markets.
“I wanted to probe what is widely touted as a potential source of funding for farmers, while also being another hurdle to be cleared in order to enter many supply chains,” he said in his submission.
“It’s important that as Farmers Weekly we do not simply accept claims made by those with a financial stake in the market without proper investigation.”
Judges Suffolk farmer John Pawsey, Oakbank’s Phil Jarvis and last year’s winner Danusia Osiowy, alongside Phil Hambling from award sponsor ABP, were impressed in the way a complex subject was made accessible, including clearly explaining why baselining and uncertain funding are preventing farmers from entering carbon markets.
“It is well-balanced, combining the practical realities facing farmers with constructive examples of how major supply-chain businesses are beginning to share costs and support change,” one judge said.
Runner up was freelance broadcast journalist Anna Jones for BBC Radio 4 programme “Corn Belt People”. She travelled to the 2025 Iowa State Fair to take the temperature of rural Iowans almost a year into Donald Trump’s second presidential term.
“I wanted to reflect the views of rural Americans, which I feel routinely get overlooked or simplified,” she said.
Judges said it was just lovely storytelling. “Brilliant and respectful interviews with a surprising outcome,” one said.
Anna won £150 as a runner up prize. Both Andrew and Anna also won the opportunity to be hosted by ABP, alongside other category award winners, for a celebratory lunch in the coming months.
