Award-Winning Isabel Oats: How Edwards Seaweed and BioN Helped Secure First Prize for Rob Alderton

At Edwards Seaweed, we love to see farmers achieving success, and this summer, we’re celebrating with Shropshire farmer Rob Alderson, whose Isabel oat crop has taken first prize in the Clun Forest NFU cereal competition.

This is a story of good land, strong agronomy, the right weather, and a nutrient programme built around British-harvested seaweed and our unique BioN blend.

From Seaweed Experience to a New Approach

Rob has used seaweed in various forms over the years and already understands its benefits for crop health. But 2025 was his first time using the full Edwards Seaweed and BioN programme.

“I’ve valued the properties of seaweed for a number of years, but in addition to that, the BioN the Edwards crew put in with the seaweed is what’s taken this crop on,” Rob explains.

The Isabel oats, entered into the local cereal competition, impressed the judges and claimed top honours. For Rob, the win is the result of a combination of factors — sound husbandry, timely planting, favourable weather, and the Edwards nutrient approach.

“The Edwards team do my spraying and apply the nitrogen through the seaweed and BioN. The result is a lovely crop of corn that takes first prize — a combination of planting, growing, husbandry, and fertility, with seaweed playing a wonderful part in that,” says Rob.

Why BioN Makes the Difference

While seaweed alone has long been recognised for its ability to stimulate plant health, BioN adds a powerful extra dimension.

BioN is a unique blend of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-cycling bacteria. Unlike conventional chemical fertilisers, where nitrogen is quickly used up, often requiring repeat applications every few weeks, BioN works continually, providing a steady nutrient supply for up to nine months.

Dave Edwards explains:

“The bacteria in BioN feed off the seaweed and humic substances in our unique blend, keeping nutrients available over a long period. That’s why we can reduce the need for repeated chemical applications and still maintain yield and quality.”

Proven Performance in Cereals and Grassland

Edwards Seaweed and BioN have built a strong track record in grassland management, with many farmers reporting improved pasture health, stronger root systems, and better resilience.

Rob’s win demonstrates that the same benefits can be achieved in cereals.

“It performs in all crops,” Dave says. “We’ve done a lot of work in grass, but this shows we can achieve excellent results in arable cereals too. And the good thing is, everything is UK-sourced and readily available.”

Sustainable, Profitable Farming

For Edwards Seaweed, the aim is always twofold — improve soil health and crop resilience while keeping farming profitable.

“Whatever we do with our seaweeds and natural products, farmers still need to maintain yield to make a profit. That’s the important thing. Rob’s result is proof you can win awards and grow top-quality crops with sustainable inputs,” says Dave.

We’ll be following up after harvest to share sample photos, bushel weights, and yield results from this award-winning field of Isabel oats.

Congratulations to Rob on a well-earned win!