In its sixth year, the RDS Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Awards celebrates the work of individuals, farming families and organisations who are enhancing the economic, environmental and social development of Irish agriculture and rural communities.

The deadline to apply for the 2025 RDS Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Awards is Friday, January 31, 2025.

Award winners will be announced at the 2025 RDS Spring Agricultural & Forestry Awards which will take place in the RDS Concert Hall in April.

For over 160 years, the RDS Awards have highlighted efficient and productive Irish farmers with the focus being on increasing productivity. The awards continue to grow and evolve to capture the diversity of the agriculture sector.

The winner in each of the categories will receive €2,000 and an RDS Silver Medal. The runner-ups will receive €1,000 and an RDS Certificate of Merit. Category winners will also receive a specially-commissioned trophy.

The categories are as follows:

Sustainable Farming Award:
Sustainable Rural Innovation Award:
Sustainable Rural Social Impact Award:

Application forms are available to download by clicking here or via email from [email protected].

The RDS Circular Economy Awards are also open for applications until Friday, February 7, 2025.

The RDS Circular Economy Awards recognise Irish businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators making a positive difference in meeting the climate change challenge through adaptation or adoption of circular economy practices in delivery of products or services.

The awards highlight the benefits the circular economy can bring to both producers and consumers and showcase the practical examples of the circular economy in action. The awards are open to businesses that demonstrate circular practices.

This means products or services that use renewable materials and are designed for durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling to keep products, components, and materials circulating in the economy.

There are three prize categories for these awards, as follows:

Emerging Award;
SME Award;
Corporate Strategy Award (a new category this year).

Application forms are available to download on the RDS website or via email from [email protected].

The RDS said it would like to acknowledge the support of Trinity Executive Education in the delivery of the Circular Economy Programme.