Back in the middle of 2022, TastEd was shortlisted as a finalist for the BBC Food and Farming Awards under the Innovation category. These awards, running for over 20 years, each year celebrate the incredible work to promote good food across the UK food system, so to be shortlisted in these competitive awards was incredible. The Innovation Award celebrates those working to make a difference to change the future of food.

To be considered for winning the award, the judges – BBC Radio 4 Food Programme presenter Dan Saladino – went to see TastEd in action at Washingborough Academy and interviewed founders Jason O’Rourke and Bee Wilson, to help them make their final decision. 

TastEd some inspiring and impressive category competitors, including an NHS and wild venison partnership and wheat breeding programme examining the challenges of sustainability, each bringing real innovation to the food system. Yet it was our programme bringing innovation in the form of sensory food education to schools that led the judges to select TastEd as winners! 

The judges felt that TastEd bringing sensory food education to schools was a project that could be replicated in most other regions of the UK and has the potential to seriously impact the future of food. Helping children to develop a love for fruit and vegetables, not only could improve the diet of the nation, but also could increase the sustainability of the food Britons eat. The whole TastEd team are thrilled that sensory food education was recognised and celebrated by the BBC Food and Farming Awards and we look forward to seeing sensory food education spread across even more schools and nurseries as a result.

Huge thanks from the whole team at TastEd to the judges, and fellow nominees. 

To hear the awards show, and all about TastEd, listen to the BBC shows here