Agsafe General Manager, Alison Carmichael, is pleased to announce that the organisation has been named as a finalist in the international Agrow Awards 2015 for ‘Best Stewardship Programme (Accreditation & Training, drumMUSTER and ChemClear)’.
“The award category recognises outstanding schemes that manage agrochemical or agbiotech products in the marketplace in a sustainable way,” she said. “We are in good company with Croplife Australia also being shortlisted for their Pollinator Protection Initiative, along with Andef Brazil, Impev Brazil and The Mediae Company.”
The Agrow Awards were developed to reward excellence in the crop protection and production industry. This is the eighth instalment of the prestigious awards which calls for applications from around the globe.
Ms Carmichael reflects that Agsafe has grown over 22 years from a small, industry accreditation program to become Australia’s largest industry stewardship organisation servicing the agricultural and veterinary chemical industry, farmers and other users of chemical products.
The organisation provides safety advice and training to over 1400 retail premises through its Accreditation & Training program, ensuring that around 95% of the chemical retail industry is committed to staff and customer safety.
“Stores achieving Agsafe accreditation are maintaining compliance and reducing risk in an industry which deals with products with the potential to create serious risk to the environment, users and the wider community,” said Accreditation & Training Manager Frances Cameron.
Agsafe is also active in removing the pollution risk posed by unwanted chemical products. The drumMUSTER program collects and recycles empty agvet chemical containers, while ChemClear collects and sustainably destroys unwanted or out-of-date chemicals.
drumMUSTER and ChemClear National Program Manager Allan McGann said, “Agsafe’s product stewardship programs are an integral part of the Australian agricultural landscape. The commitment to the programs from all stakeholders demonstrates the importance of chemical and container management. We are extremely proud to be nominated for such a prestigious international award.”
The winner will be announced on 17 September 2015 in London.