Prize winner 2022/2023
The winner of this year is "Improving Soil Health through experimental regenerative agriculture practices in the Netherlands”, a project submitted by Klompe Landbouw, Mijnsheerenland. The Netherlands represented by the farm owners Mellany and Jeroen Klompe; together with the Soil Heroes Foundation, represented by Annabelle Williams.
The Jury also awarded two Diplomas of Recognition to the following projects
| Project name | Source |
| The Blaston regenerative farm (UK) for improving soil health and weed control, diversifying cropping and farming with nature, creating a sustainable business and reducing the carbon footprint of the farm, whilst producing healthy, nutritious food. They adopted the 3 Ms – Management, Measurement and Monetisation. | |
|
INNOLIVAR (Spain) for actions to control erosion and restore gullies in olive groves submitted by Interprofessional Spanish Olive Oil Organization. The objectives of the project are: The development of a simple and reliable mapping method of the gully network and its catchment, and a hydrological model for the analysis of the landscape evolution, for a proper selection and dimension of the control and preventive practices. |
https://innolivar.es/ |
All first place winners: Prize and diplomas of recognition
|
Year |
Project name |
Location |
Name of applicant |
| 2022/2023 | Improving Soil Health through experimental regenerative agriculture practices | The Netherlands |
Klompe Landbouw, Mijnsheerenland |
| 2021/2022 | Improving soil aggregation for soil protection, soil improvement, proper water management, carbon storage and food safety" | Hungary | Geographical Institute,Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences |
| 2020/2021 | Improving soil biodiversity and humus content for better soil fertility and climate | Slovenia | Zvone ฤerneliฤ, Farm ฤerneliฤ |
| Diploma of Recognition: Zukunft Erde – humus formation program | Austria | RWA | |
| Diploma of Recognition: The Land and Soil Management at the Petr Marada ฬs Ecofarm | Czech republic | Petr Marada | |
| Diploma of Recognition: Carbon Action | Finland | Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) | |
| Diploma of Recognition: La Junquera: fighting land degradation with regenerative practices in South Spain | Spain | Alfonso Chico de Guzman | |
| 2019/2020 | ORTO 2.0 | Italy | Lorenzo Artibani |
| Diploma of Recognition: a research and demonstration agroforestry experimental site in Ramecourt | Northern France | Antione Dequidt & partners | |
| 2018/2019 | GROW Observatory | UK | GROW Observatory |
| Special Recognition for Breakthrough in Soil Technology for Precision Nutrient Management by near-infrared spectroscopy | Germany | John Deere GmbH&Co. KG | |
| 2017/2018 | Preservation of soil health and fertility by implementing new concepts of land management | Bulgaria | Galina Dimitrova Peycheva-Miteva |
| Diploma of Recognition: Holistic Management Regenerating Agricultural Soils | Zimbabwe | Africa Centre for Holistic Management | |
| 2016/2017 | Healthy Soil for Healthy Food | Austria | 59 Austrian farmers, SPAR and WWF Austria |
| 2015/2016 | Creating new land and soil management opportunities under Mediterranean soil and climatic limitations |
Portugal |
Portalimpex, Lda |
| 2014/2015 | Soil Regeneration at West Woodhay Farms | UK | West Woodhay Farms |
| 2013/2014 | The Pontbren Project | Wales | Pontbren Farmers Group |
| 2012/2013 | Global approach for a sustainable agroecosystem | France | E.A.R.L. LEFEBVRE |
| 2011/2012 | Certified course “soil practitioner” for crop and grassland farmers | Austria | Bio Austria (group of farmers) |
| 2010/2011 | The Land Stewardship Network | Spain | Jordi Pietx |
| 2009/2010 | Little things mean a lot | Iceland | Erlendur Björnsson |
| 2008/2009 | Jistebnice Highlands | Cch Republic | Jana Madฤrová |
About the Award
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.
How to apply?
Applications for the Soil Award are now closed, but we will be happy to hear about your project at the end of the year.
The call for application were opened from 17 October, 2022. You needed to simply fill in the application form available on the link below and send it by 15 January, 2023 midnight.
The award is bestowed to the winner every year during the Forum for the Future of Agriculture.
Please note: the application should preferably be filled out in English. If the application chooses another language a well-structured English summary of the project should be enclosed. Submit your project via e-mail to the Award Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Application Form 2022/2023 edition Download EN
Download FR
Download ES
Eligibility criteria
