University of Lincoln Wins Prestigious National Sustainability Award for Groundbreaking Climate Research

The University of Lincoln has won a national Green Gown Award for its cutting-edge Reverse Coal project, recognising world-leading research that addresses climate change through innovation in agriculture, energy and land use.

Lincoln was awarded the 2025 UK and Ireland Green Gown Award for Research with Impact; this accolade celebrates excellence in sustainability across higher and further education and affirms the University of Lincoln’s position as a national leader in research that delivers real-world environmental and economic benefits.

The winning initiative, Climate-neutral Integrated Systems for Agriculture, Farming, Energy and the Environment (Climate SAFE) is part of the Reverse Coal project and is a collaboration between the University’s Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and Pollybell Farm, part of the Lapwing Estate based in South Yorkshire.

Led by Lincoln’s Dr Amir Badiee, Prof Simon Pearson, Prof Duncan Botting, Dr Oscar Utomo, and Prof Martin Collison, the project is a complete reversal of the traditional approach to fossil fuels. The Climate SAFE process uses nature and technology together to remove carbon from the atmosphere instead of releasing it.

Fast-growing willow trees are planted to absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. Once harvested, the willow is put through a process called pyrolysis. This involves heating the plant material to very high temperatures without oxygen, which transforms it into a charcoal-like substance known as biochar. Rather than burning and releasing carbon, this locks the carbon safely away. The heat produced during this process is captured and used to power nearby high-tech glasshouses that grow fresh food all-year round. For every square metre of this system in operation, around 216 grams of carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere, showing how farming, energy generation, and food production can all work hand in hand for a sustainable future.

Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said:

“This recognition of the Reverse Coal project with a national Green Gown award is a proud moment for the University of Lincoln. It affirms our conviction that world‑leading research rooted in our region can deliver tangible impact on net‑zero, agricultural resilience and carbon removal.

“Climate SAFE reflects the very best of higher education, with collaboration across disciplines, partnerships with industry, and research that delivers impact for both the environment and the economy. It highlights how work here in Lincolnshire and beyond can contribute to the UK’s net‑zero ambitions, support regional industries and deliver long‑term environmental benefit. It also underlines our role as a civic university driving sustainable change.”

Professor Karl Dayson, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Lincoln, added:

“The Green Gown award for Climate SAFE is a powerful endorsement of what can be achieved when world leading research, academic expertise, engineering innovation and real‑world farming practices come together. This accolade not only celebrates interdisciplinary innovation but also strengthens our contribution to the next phase of the Research Excellence Framework. We are grateful to everyone involved and excited to build on this momentum.”

Dr Amir Badiee said:

“We’re incredibly proud that Climate SAFE has been recognised with this award.

“It reflects years of collaboration and innovation across disciplines, bringing together engineering, environmental science, and agri-tech to create practical solutions for a net-zero future.”

Professor Simon Pearson, Director of LIAT, commented:

“This project represents exactly what the University of Lincoln has become known for, research that delivers real-world impact.

“Our scientists and engineers are working together with industry partners like The Lapwing Estate to tackle the some of the challenges faced by UK agriculture.”

Jamie Smith, Project Manager for The Lapwing Estate said:

“A lot of hard work has gone into developing this new approach, which complements the existing organic farming on The Lapwing Estate.

“Partnering with the University of Lincoln gives us the scientific insight and confidence to turn ambitious ideas into practical, sustainable solutions for the future of farming.”

Based at Pollybell Farm within the 5,000-acre Lapwing Estate, the Reverse Coal project builds on the site’s work on greenhouse gas removal and offers a replicable model for farms across the UK and is funded by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

To find out more about the research, visit www.reversecoal.co.uk.