The search is on to find the Isle of Man’s most forward-looking people in the food, farming and fishing industry.

Nominations for the 2018 Food, Farming and Fishing Awards are being invited by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA), which is supported by Shoprite.

A brief overall reason and description of how nominees have meet the awards’ criteria must be included.

For food producers, this includes: market focus; local food promotion; resilience; competitiveness and use of local produce.

For farmers: efficient and profitable farming; meeting consumer demands; local food promotion; diversification and conserving the environment.

For fishing: marketing/branding; scientific research and development; economics and technical efficiency; quality and traceability; diversification and conserving the environment.

Nominations should be sent to DEFA marketing officer Audrey Fowler at [email protected], by March 31. Winners will be announced on August 10.

Last year’s winners were James Callow, Ballaherd Farm, Bride (farming), Stephen and Jenny Devereau, Staarvey Farm, Patrick (food) and John and Fiona Anderson, Knockaloe Beg, Patrick (special award for diversification). They cannot be nominated this year.