It won the award for its commitment to sourcing its rice from farmers who are working towards the SRP standard.
In 2015, the company announced its rice sustainability initiative whereby it pledged that by 2020, 100% of its rice would be sourced from farmers working towards the Sustainable Rice Platform standard for sustainable rice.
It met this pledge with its Uncle Ben’s Basmati Rice, which it claimed was a global first.
The company said: “Sustainable rice is critical to meet the needs of a growing global population. Rice is the daily staple for more than 3.5 billion people and provides livelihoods for 19% of the world’s population.
“Yet rice farming has environmental impacts. Previous rice production practices use approximately 40% of the world’s irrigation water, and is responsible for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions – and demand for rice will only increase.”
Other winners at the ceremony held on 22 November included Fairfields Farm Produce Ltd, Born Tasty Ltd and Ederna.
The awards recognise "innovative product development, ground breaking science and technology, sustainability initiatives, or for packaging design and consumer marketing strategies."