THE 2026 Duke of Cornwall’s Award at the Royal Cornwall Show has been given to Tregothnan Tea, recognising the estate’s commitment to sustainable farming, environmental stewardship and innovation in British food production.

Run by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and the Duchy of Cornwall, the prestigious award celebrates the farm business judged to have delivered the most successful and sustainable approach to farming, forestry or food production within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The prize includes a perpetual trophy presented at the Royal Cornwall Show and a £1,000 award donated by HRH The Duke of Cornwall.

Judges praised Tregothnan’s combination of heritage, sustainability and innovation, particularly highlighting TeaBot, the world’s first solar-powered robotic tea harvester which was demonstrated during the judging visit.

Designed and built entirely on site, TeaBot forms part of Tregothnan’s long-term commitment to environmentally sensitive British tea production. The technology reduces reliance on fossil fuels while improving harvesting precision and reducing waste, supporting the estate’s wider net zero ambitions.

At the heart of Tregothnan’s approach is the belief that sustainable farming must work alongside nature. Tea is grown as a permanent perennial crop, helping protect soil structure, support microbial life and reduce erosion compared with annually cultivated systems. The estate’s tea gardens, woodland management and river restoration projects also contribute to carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement and long-term landscape resilience.

Tregothnan’s location along the River Fal plays a key role in its environmental stewardship strategy. Permanent tea cover helps improve water infiltration and reduce runoff, while habitat management supports river health and wider ecosystem recovery. Biodiversity remains central to the estate’s philosophy, with woodland, botanical collections and cultivated areas managed as one interconnected ecosystem supporting pollinators, birds and invertebrates.

As a founding member of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Tregothnan continues to contribute to Cornwall’s wider environmental goals while welcoming thousands of visitors each year through River Garden Tea Tours and the annual Open Garden Weekend, helping connect people with sustainable agriculture and responsible land management.

Speaking following the award win, Jonathon Jones, managing director of trading at Tregothnan, said the recognition reflected decades of research, experimentation and innovation proving British-grown tea can be both environmentally responsible and commercially viable.

“Tregothnan’s unique Cornish microclimate makes it possible to grow tea successfully in Britain,” he added. “Everything we do has been developed specifically around the conditions of the estate, from cultivation methods through to environmental stewardship and technological innovation.

“TeaBot represents how Tregothnan continues to combine heritage with innovation, developing entirely new systems and approaches tailored specifically to our environment, climate and landscape.”

The award highlights the shared values between Tregothnan, the Royal Cornwall Show and the Duchy of Cornwall in championing sustainable rural enterprise, innovation and responsible stewardship of Cornwall’s landscape for future generations.

The Royal Cornwall Show takes place from Thursday, June 4, to Saturday, June 6, at its dedicated showground near Wadebridge. It offers entertainment, agriculture, shopping and competition, and with around 120,000 visitors anticipated over its three-day run, it claims to be Cornwall’s largest event.