Innovation at the heart of our nation
After the success of Goodyear’s 2008 search for the UK’s most innovative farmer, the leading tyre expert is on the search again.
The 2008 campaign saw Patrick Bowden Smith from Fife win £3500 worth of Goodyear farm tyres and the Goodyear Farming Innovation Award for his renewable energy innovation, a solar and wind powered stock drinker and electric fencer.
The 2009 campaign is asking for farmers from across the UK to submit their innovative farming ideas for the chance to win the 2009 Goodyear Farming Innovation Award and £3500 worth of Goodyear farm tyres. To align the competition with current farming developments, Goodyear have teamed together with Harper Adams University College to help with the selection of the most innovative farmer.
Goodyear is continually developing new innovations across all sectors, in particular with their new BioTred2 tyre for the agricultural market. BioTred2 is a fully functioning prototype Goodyear Optitrac radial farm tyre in 650/65R38 in which the processing of the different rubber components uses vegetal oil rather than crude oil. Crude oil derivatives such as chemicals, carbon black and processing oils are traditionally used in the tyre industry. Crude oil is a finite resource and in addition its volatile pricing in the last year has presented major challenges to the tyre industry and accelerated research into alternative solutions.
Phil Stanton, Goodyear Farm and OTR Manager said: "The BioTred2 innovation has provided us with valuable new information which will be used in the development of other new tyre materials and processing technologies in the future."
"We hope that by highlighting our latest innovation we can inspire others to come forward with their farming innovations. We had an array of innovations enter the competition last year and hope to see the same again this year" Phil concluded.
To enter the competition visit www.mygoodyear.co.uk or visit the Goodyear farm team who will be at a number of popular farming shows throughout the year including Royal Cornwall, Royal Welsh, Royal Highland and Cereals and will be taking submissions on their stand.
