Prince Charles 'Touched' To Receive Surprising Award For His Passion For Farming
Prince Charles' passion for farming has made him a leading proponent of the British farming industry and his efforts were recently recognized by Farmer's Weekly with a Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020.
According to Daily Express, the Prince of Wales was "touched and surprised" by the recognition. Charles said that he has been doing "as little as he can" for the farming communities across the United Kingdom to promote and support a sustainable movement.
Charles also said that he is "constantly amazed and heartened" as British farming communities remain resilient and adaptable despite facing different challenges. The Prince of Wales believes that rural Britain remains the backbone of the country but he also recognizes that there are bigger challenges ahead as changes in the environment are happening rapidly and threatening sustainability.
The heir to the British throne is a known environmentalist who has been credited as an early adopter of the organic movement before organic farming became the trend. In a video message during the online Farmer's Weekly Awards Show, Charles said that he isn't against new technology or new ideas for farming. However, he wants these elements to be incorporated "thoughtfully and appropriately" without displacing the natural process of agricultural life or disregarding the "precautionary principle and the lessons of history" from the forefathers.
Ten years ago, Charles started what he called a "passion project" and established the Prince's Countryside Fund (PCF) to help the farmers. Every year, this grant funds initiatives and commissions various studies that would help improve the industry.
The grant also supports the Farm Resilience Programme that provides farmers and families the training and means to make their business profitable. It's because of this kind of work that Farmer's Weekly believes the Prince of Wales deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to PCF chairman Lord Curry of Kirkharle, the future king demonstrated how he deeply cares for the range of issues experienced by every family farm when he launched the initiative. Kirkharle described Charles as a farmer, a visionary and a "real advocate of agriculture," who has been keen on these farms' survival.
The royal's former private secretary, Elizabeth Buchanan, said that not many people know the help Charles has extended to the rural farmlands. This recognition is proof that he is making a difference in the lives and livelihood of the farmers.
The Prince of Wales ended his acceptance speech by quoting a line uttered by George Washington, who once said that the noblest and most useful work of man is in farming.