Photo credit: Press Eye Photography for BBC NI

Bronagh O’Kane, a regenerative beef and sheep farmer from Co Tyrone came out top at the recent awards for her innovative, ecological approaches to farming and her pioneering work with GrowIN and the Fields Good festival, which facilitates farmer learning.

Driven by a desire to improve the resilience and future legacy of her family farm, and troubled by the decline in Northern Ireland’s biodiversity, Bronagh made it her mission to find nature-based solutions and farm in a new, viable and more sustainable way. By restoring the microbial life of the soils, changing to native breeds and paddock grazing on multi-species swards, Bronagh has cut out costly and polluting chemical fertilisers and feed concentrates, and has minimal vet bills.

By establishing a network that connects over 1,000 farmers through GrowIN and co-organising Fields Good farming festival, Bronagh is sharing knowledge and moving regenerative farming from the margins to the mainstream. Award Nominator Jill Montgomery from NIEL says, “Bronagh O’Kane has been an unsung hero of progressive farming in Northern Ireland – her work, warmth and impact deserve this national recognition”.

Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 The Food Programme on Fri 23 October and Sat 24 October, on Your Place and Mine on Sat 24, BBC Radio Ulster and Countryfile.

Read more