2024 Awards

The Honorary Fellowship Award - An Honorary Fellowship is the highest commendation awarded by the Institution.  It recognises outstanding service to both the Institution and to the Agricultural Engineering Profession.

Bill Day HonFIAgrE - for his outstanding service to Biosystems Engineering and the Institution. 

Bill said he was humbled and delighted to be given this Award by the Institution.  Mark Moore the new IAgrE President can be seen here presenting Bill with his certificate.

The retirement of Dr Bill Day and Dr Steve Parkin

The Institution were delighted to welcome Dr Bill Day and Dr Steve Parkin to thank them for their years of editorial work for Biosystems Engineering, the IAgrE owned learned journal.

They have steered the journal since 2007 and raised its profile and impact factor considerably.

A gift of decanter and glasses was presented to Bill & Steve by their long-standing colleagues and members of the IAgrE Publication Management Committee, Professors Richard Godwin & Paul Miller, as a small gesture of thanks from the Institution.

IAgrE Award For Contribution to the International Land-based Sector - This Award is an occasional award made to those who have made sustained contributions to the land-based sector outside the UK throughout their career.

Linus Opara CEng FIAgrE - for his work to promote highstandards in engineering across sub-saharan Africa.

Linus was unable to attend but sent a video message thanking the Institution (click the photo for the link).  He is pleased to be working with the IAgrE and the AfroAgEng to promote land-based engineering across sub-Saharan Africa.

IAgrE Award For Contribution to the Land-based Sector - This Award is made to those who have made sustained contributions to the land-based sector throughout their career.

Michael Cullen MIAgrE for his tireless contributions to the teaching of agricultural engineering and enthusiasm for the Parloursafe Milking Scheme.

Mike was delighted to receive this award and said that it had been his privilege to teach so many young people.  He finds it extremely rewarding to see so many of his students creating successful careers in the land-based sector.

IAgrE Award For Contribution to the Land-based Sector - This Award is made to those who have made sustained contributions to the land-based sector throughout their career.

Ben Taylor Davies won this award in 2023 but was unable to collect it in person so was delighted to join us this year to celebrate his success (information on his award may be found on the 2023 Awards page).

The President's Award (formerly the Michael Dwyer Memorial Prize) - The prize is to a mid-career engineer who has made outstanding progress in the agricultural engineering industry. The Institution is delighted to make the award again this year.

Diogenes Antille CEng CEnv MIAgrE - for his achievements in agricultural engineering academic research.

Dio had travelled from his home in Canberra, Australia to receive this award and felt honoured to be recognised for his achievements by his peers and colleagues within IAgrE.  He was thrilled to accept his award and enjoyed catching up with his mentors and friends in the UK. 

The Environmental Engineer Award - a new award sponsored by the Douglas Bomford Trust for an individual who has made a substantial contribution to improving any aspect of the environment.

David J Cooper CEng CEnv MIAgrE - for his distinguished contribution to environmental innovation and research.

David was unable to attend the event but was delighted with the award and it is hoped to present it to him more locally in the near future.  He sent a video expressing his thanks "It's always gratifying when our work, which is very beneficial to the environment, is acknowledged and I'd like to thank the Institute for this award on behalf of myself and the team." (click on his photo for the video).

Charlie Nicklin was able to visit David in July to present the Award in person.

The Environmental Engineer Team Award - a new award sponsored by the Douglas Bomford Trust for a team who have made a substantial contribution to improving any aspect of the environment.

Severn Trent Water Soil Health Improvement Project lead by Marion Perrett-Pearson CEnv MIAgrE.

Marion was joined by farmer Simon Deacon MIAgrE to receive this award.  Both Marion & Simon very much enjoyed their day with us and were pleased that this important environmental work is being supported and recognised.

Branch Meritorious Service Award - Made to members who have consistently rendered outstanding service to their Branch of the Institution or a Technical Group over a number of years.

Padraig O'Kane MIAgrE - Northern Ireland Branch - for his enthusiasm and support of the Northern Ireland Branch.

Paddy was unable to attend in person so his award was presented locally by his branch Chairman Lawrence Knox.

Douglas Bomford Paper Award - The Award is offered to the author or authors of a paper which, in the previous calendar year, was published in full in the Institution journals “Landwards” and/or “Biosystems Engineering”. At least one of the authors must be a member of the Institution.

The winner of the Award this year, for his contribution to the paper "Automatic detection of locomotor play in young pigs: A proof of concept" Mona L.V. Larsen, Meiqing Wang, Sam Willems, Dong Liu, Tomas Norton Biosystems Engineering, Volume 229, 2023, Pages 154-166, ISSN 1537-5110 The link to the paper may be found here.

Dr Tomas Norton FIAgrE - Tomas said he and his team were honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Douglas Bomford Trust and IAgrE and he is always pleased to publish in Biosystems Engineering.  His award was presented by the IAgrE President Mark Moore, who is also Vice Chair of the Douglas Bomford Trust.

The IAgrE Team Achievement Award - this was awarded in recognition of successful teamwork and demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration.

There was no award made in this catagory this year.

IVEL Award - This award is made at the LAMMA Show to a new product that demonstrates the most positive contribution to the environment.  

The 2024 Award was presented to Kverneland Group UK for the PUDAMA system for precision application of fertiliser at the LAMMA show in January by CEO Charlie Nicklin.

Daniel Crowe, MD at Kverneland UK was very pleased to join the celebrations at Basildon and had a most enjoyable day with us.

Student Awards

IAgrE CNH Industrial Award - Made on the basis of a dissertation or thesis undertaken by an undergraduate or postgraduate student as part of their studies demonstrating innovation and practical application in the landbased industry. 

Postgraduate Award

Patrick Kearns, University of Nottingham MSc Advanced Chem Eng - for his  thesis “Understanding the effects of Beta Glucan rich hydrocolloids produced from different barley milling fractions on the rheological and textural properties of Chocolate” .

Sadly Patrick had car trouble on the morning of the Awards and was disappointed to be unable to attend.  It is hoped that Rob Alker from CNH can meet up with him to present the award on another occasion.

IAgrE CNH Industrial Award - Made on the basis of a dissertation or thesis undertaken by an undergraduate or postgraduate student as part of their studies demonstrating innovation and practical application in the landbased industry. 

Undergraduate Award

Aled Beech, Harper Adams University- for his final project “Concept Development of a Control Traffic Farming Bale Depositor to fit a 1.2m Bale Width Large Square Baler”

Aled very much enjoyed his day with CNHi and is pictured here with his Harper Adams University tutor, Graham Higginson, Vice President of IAgrE.

Student Project Award - This award is given to the best final year project submitted as part of a course leading to ND, NVQ Level 3, or similar qualification in land based engineering.  

James Turner, Coleg Sirgar for his project "Rear mounted bale loader"

James travelled from Wales with his very proud mother to collect his award and they were  excited to look around the plant.  

IAgrE Safety Award - This award has been established to encourage and recognise innovation in safe design or operation of equipment or processes by students studying agricultural engineering or subjects related to the application of engineering and technology to the land-based sector. 

Hywel Bowen, Coleg Sirgar - for his  project “Hydraulic Slurry Chute”

Hywel was accompanied by his father and grandfather who were very proud of his achievement.  The family had a great time in Basildon and Hywel intends to continue working in the land-based sector.