Land and Soil Management Award 2026/2027: €5,000 for Sustainable Soil Practices (Europe-Based Applicants Only)

The Land and Soil Management Award 2026/2027, run by the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO), is open for applications. It rewards farmers, landowners and land managers whose practices protect soil from threats such as erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, contamination, salinisation and flooding. The winner receives €5,000 and a diploma. Applications close on 31 January 2027.

Who can apply — read this first: applicants must be based in Europe. African farmers and organisations are not eligible unless they are based in a European country. See the end of this post for Africa-focused alternatives.

Key Details

• Organiser: European Landowners’ Organization (ELO)
• Partners: European Commission (DG Environment, DG Agriculture, Joint Research Centre), BOKU University Vienna, Syngenta, University of Ljubljana
• Prize: €5,000 + diploma
• Running since: 2008
• Ceremony: Forum for the Future of Agriculture, 20 April 2027
• Deadline: 31 January 2027

Benefits

• a €5,000 prize for the winning project
• a diploma of recognition
• presentation at the Forum for the Future of Agriculture in Brussels
• Europe-wide visibility for your soil-protection practices

Eligibility

• farmers, landowners, land managers or groups of farmers
• alone or in partnership with research institutes, universities or private companies
• based in Europe
• a land-use or soil-management practice that reduces soil threats

Which Practices Fit

• conservation or no-till farming that reduces erosion and compaction
• cover crops, crop rotation or compost that rebuild soil organic matter
• agroforestry, hedgerows or terracing that protect slopes from erosion and landslides
• water management that limits salinisation and flooding
• measures that protect soil biodiversity or reduce contamination

Tips

• Show measurable results: soil carbon, yields, erosion reduced, before-and-after photos.
• Explain how others could copy your approach.
• Mention any partnership with a university or research institute that monitored the results.

How to Apply

1. Describe your soil or land management practice and the results it has achieved.
2. Complete the official application form.
3. Submit by 31 January 2027.

Africa-Focused Alternatives

• African Plant Nutrition Outreach Fellowship for African Scientists
• SAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027 (Africa)
• Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) 2026/27 — includes Land Restoration

Deadline: 31 January 2027. Europe-based applicants only.