Excellence in sustainable food and farming has been celebrated at the 2026 RBST Scotland Food & Farming Sustainability Awards, which saw eight winners honoured by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in partnership with the Scottish Agroecology Partnership (SAP).

The eight awards were presented to farmers, crofters and rural businesses from across Scotland at the Royal Highland Show on 18^th June by dignitaries including Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is the national charity that promotes the UK’s rare native livestock and equine breeds. The RBST Scotland Food & Farming Sustainability awards, expanded this year in partnership with SAP, celebrate the people and businesses throughout Scotland’s farming and food industry who have placed environmental sustainability and native breeds at the centre of their business.

 RBST’s Scottish Coordinator Alice Lennox said: “We are delighted to recognize these eight award winners for their excellence in food and farming which goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability. The standard of entries was very high and reflects the increasingly widespread interest in the benefits of farming and managing land with the UK’s native livestock and equine breeds. At a challenging time for farming, the opportunity to minimize input costs and produce fantastic, high quality and distinctive produce with native breeds in sustainable farming systems, is really important.”

The Scottish Agroecology Partnership said: “The winners demonstrate how sustainable farming, environmental stewardship and the use of native livestock breeds can work hand in hand to deliver benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and rural communities. By celebrating innovation alongside traditional knowledge, these awards highlight the vital role that agroecological approaches play in building resilient farming systems for the future."

The RBST Food & Farming Sustainability Award winners for 2026 are:

• Farm of the Year: Ardalanish Farm (Isle of Mull)
• Croft of the Year: Hawkhill Croft (Caithness)
• Organic Leader of the Year: West Coast Organics (Isle of Skye)
• Small-scale Producer of the Year: Fieldfare CSA (Aberdeenshire)
• Local Food Outlet of the Year: The Green Bowl (Sutherland)
• Food Producer of the year: Lapwings Community Mill (Aberdeenshire)
• SAP Champion of the Year: Lauriston Farm (Edinburgh)
• RBST Champion of the Year: Euan Dunbar (Perth and Kinross)

RBST Champion of the Year Euan Dunbar said: “I’m incredibly proud to receive this award. As a young farmer, I strongly believe native and rare breeds have a vital role in the future of farming — they’re resilient, sustainable, and part of our heritage. I hope this recognition encourages more people to see the value of these breeds and the importance of protecting agricultural biodiversity for the next generation.” 

Farm of the Year winners Ardalanish Farm said: “We're absolutely delighted to receive the Farm of the Year award from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. This recognition means a great deal to us, as it celebrates the work we do to protect rare breeds while producing high-quality, sustainable products here at Ardalanish Farm. Awards like these are so important because they shine a light on the vital role that rare breeds and traditional farming play in supporting biodiversity, rural communities, and the future of sustainable agriculture.”