Mondelēz International has announced the winners of the inaugural Cadbury Farmer of the Year Awards.
Five farmers were recognised for their performance across the categories of milk quality, innovation and sustainability, young farmer and female farmer.
Mondelēz International President for Australia, New Zealand and Japan Darren O’Brien says the awards were established to honour Cadbury’s hard-working Tasmanian farmers and their love for dairy.
“We’re incredibly proud of our unique dairy sourcing model here in Tasmania and the direct relationships we have with our farmers,” he says.
“This is an opportunity for us to say thank you to our farmers for their commitment to Cadbury, Australia’s most trusted food brand, and to recognise the hard work they put in every single day to deliver the high-quality milk that goes into our great tasting products.”
Mark Griffin, a fifth-generation farmer from Mount Patrick Estate, was the recipient of the Milk Quality award, reflecting “first-class” practices across his dairy operations.
Darren Fielding and Paul Lambert were joint winners of the Innovation and Sustainability category. Mr Fielding has invested in one of the state’s few robotic dairies, automating the milking process for his 330 Friesian cows. Mr Lambert, on the other hand, has adopted smart cow collars, providing real-time data on the health and fertility of his cows, and capabilities to control their feed allocation and movement across his 300-hectare property.
Brodie Hill, farming in South Riana on the central coast, shines as the Young Farmer award recipient, demonstrating a “spirit of innovation and promise for the future of the industry”.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Alice Abblitt was celebrated as the winner of the Female Farmer award, showcasing “leadership and dedication in a male-dominated industry”.
