The Land and Soil Management Award 2025/2026
The prize rewards land use and soil management practices mitigating soil threats i.e. soil degradation, erosion, reduction of organic matter content, diffuse contamination, and compaction as well as the reduction of soil biodiversity, salinization, sealing, flooding and landslides. In doing so, the award sheds light on outstanding achievements, encouraging new concepts of land and soil protection and their implementation in land management, as well as enhancing awareness about the importance of land and soil functions, in Europe and extended territories.
Who can apply?
European farmers, landowners, land managers, groups of farmers, on their own or in collaboration with research institutes, universities and/or private companies; applicants from non-EU countries and overseas territories are also welcome.
Why apply?
Across Europe, many farmers and land managers are already taking meaningful steps to protect and improve their soils. The Soil Award offers a chance to share this work and gain recognition for the solutions you have developed, the challenges you have addressed and the benefits your project is creating for your land, the environment and your community. By applying, you help increase the visibility of effective practices at local, national and European level and encourage others to follow similar paths
A prize of 5.000 €, as well as a diploma of recognition are awarded to the winning project each year.
How to apply?
Fill out the application form before the deadline (30 January, 2026) The winner will receive the award at the Forum for the Future of Agriculture’s Annual Conference on 14 April, 2026
Members of the Jury
- BOKU University, Martin H. GERZABEK, Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. – President of the Jury
- European Commission DG AGRI, Kerstin ROSENOW, Head of Unit Research & Innovation
- European Commission DG ENV, Ion CODESCU, Head of Unit Land Use and Management
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Serenella SALA, Head of the Land Resources and Supply Chain Assessments Unit
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Arwyn JONES, JRC Scientist, Soil science
- European Landowners’ Organization, Thierry de L’ESCAILLE, Executive President
- KU Leuven, Maarten EVERAERT, Assistant Professor Soil Science & Soil Fertility
- Ljubljana University, Dr. Franc LOBNIK, Emeritus Prof.
- Syngenta, Max NEWBERT, Technology Solution Expert Sensors & IoT
Contact
Wallerand.Vanoutryve@elo.orgPrevious winners
| 2025 | Winner | Gut & Bösel | Link |
| 2025 | Diploma of Recognition | San Giorgio Soil Regeneration Project - Rudolf Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg | |
| 2025 | Diploma of Recognition | Joseph’s Dream - Jacques Naudé | Link |
| 2024 | Winner | Halage, led by Adrien Rogissart, France | Link |
| 2024 | Diploma of Recognition | Bokrijk Soil and Heritage Conservation led by Jeroen Franssens, Belgium | Link |
| 2024 | Diploma of Recognition | Le Jardin des Saveurs led by Sandrine de Moerloose & Arnaud van der Straten, Belgium | Link |
| 2023 | Winner | Improving Soil Health through experimental regenerative agriculture practices, by Klompe Landbouw, Mijnsheerenland, The Netherlands | Link |
| 2023 | Diploma of Recognition | The Blaston regenerative farm, UK | Link |
| 2023 | Diploma of Recognition | Innolivar, Spain | Link |
| 2022 | Winner | Improving soil aggregation for soil protection, soil improvement, proper water management, carbon storage and food safety, by the Geographical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungary | Link |
| 2021 | Winner | Improving soil biodiversity and humus content for better soil fertility and climate, by Zvone Černelič, Farm Černelič, Slovenia | |
| 2021 | Diploma of Recognition | Zukunft Erde – humus formation program, by RWA, Austria | Link |
| 2021 | Diploma of Recognition | The Land and Soil Management at the Petr Marada ́s Ecofarm, by Petr Marada, Czech republic | |
| 2021 | Diploma of Recognition | Carbon Action, by the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG), Finland | Link |
| 2021 | Diploma of Recognition | La Junquera: fighting land degradation with regenerative practices in South Spain, by Alfonso Chico de Guzman, Spain | Link |
| 2020 | Winner | ORTO 2.0, by Lorenzo Artibani, Italy | |
| 2020 | Diploma of Recognition | A research and demonstration agroforestry experimental site in Ramecourt, by Antione Dequidt & partners, Northern France | |
| 2019 | Winner | GROW Observatory, UK | Link |
| 2019 | Diploma of Recognition | Breakthrough in Soil Technology for Precision Nutrient Management by near-infrared spectroscopy, by John Deere GmbH&Co. KG, Germany | Link |
| 2018 | Winner | Preservation of soil health and fertility by implementing new concepts of land management, by Galina Dimitrova Peycheva-Miteva, Bulgaria | |
| 2018 | Diploma of Recognition | Holistic Management Regenerating Agricultural Soils, by Africa Centre for Holistic Management, Zimbabwe | Link |
| 2017 | Winner | Healthy Soil for Healthy Food, by 59 Austrian farmers, SPAR and WWF Austria | |
| 2016 | Winner | Creating new land and soil management opportunities under Mediterranean soil and climatic limitations, by Portalimpex, Lda, Portugal | Link |
| 2015 | Winner | Soil Regeneration at West Woodhay Farms, by West Woodhay Farms, UK | |
| 2014 | Winner | The Pontbren Project, by the Pontbren Farmers Group, Wales | |
| 2013 | Winner | Global approach for a sustainable agroecosystem, by E.A.R.L. Lefebvre, France | |
| 2012 | Winner | Certified course “soil practitioner” for crop and grassland farmers, by Bio Austria, Austria | Link |
| 2011 | Winner | The Land Stewardship Network, by Jordi Pietx, Spain | |
| 2010 | Winner | Little things mean a lot, by Erlendur Björnsson, Iceland | |
| 2009 | Winner | Jistebnice Highlands, by Jana Maděrová, Czech republic |
