The award is given to somebody – or an organisation – whose contribution to the industry has been both valued and sustained.

The industry is lucky to have many such dedicated people and over the years the entire spectrum of the industry has been represented, including those from processing, producers, academics, vets and journalists.

Nominations for the award are still open and they will be judged by an independent panel chaired by AHDB Pork director Mick Sloyan who said: “The British pig industry has been going through a period of recovery but there are challenges ahead.

“Not least of these are current pig prices, even though they have been partially offset by falls in feed prices.

“It takes exceptional people to rise to these challenges and help the industry face and overcome them. There are plenty of people like that in the British pig industry and the aim of the David Black Award is to recognise their contribution.”

The award will be presented at an industry breakfast in November, held at the House of Lords.

Nominations, which close on Friday, 28 August, can be made via the AHDB Pork website, http://pork.ahdb.org.uk/news/david-black-award/