Carlos González Cano (Gastro SER), Belén Delgado (EFEAgro) and Erika Elizari (Teknopolis, ETB), winners of the fifth EIT Food Journalism Awards in Spain

Carlos González Cano, journalist of Gastro SER, has won the fifth edition of the EIT Food Journalism Award in AgriFood Innovation and Sustainability, which was presented on December 18th, during a press breakfast for the 5th Anniversary of EIT Food South that was held in Madrid. Second place went to Belén Delgado, from EFEAgro, and third place went to Erika Elizari, from the Euskal Telebista program Teknopolis.

The 2023 edition was especially competitive. The jury had to decide between the 76 entries submitted, "with a high average level" and "very evenly matched". In this fifth edition, three cash prizes were awarded: 1,500 euros to the winner, 1,000 euros to the second and 500 euros to the third. In addition, six other journalists have been recognized with diplomas for the quality of their work, which have been finalists.

The Winning articles
1st Winner: Carlos González Cano, from Gastro SER, won the first prize for two works he presented entitled 'Así es el desconocido proyecto gastronómico de Inditex; menús a 15 céntimos, fruta fea y vasos de cristal', published on September 30 last year, and 'El nuevo invento español que alargará la vida de las fresas', published on June 5.

The jury has valued "his ability to build interesting stories starting from particular cases and reaching the generality". In addition to highlighting "her very well-written texts, in an agile and attractive way", the "sustainability" perspective has been taken into account due to "the impact of the Inditex example for other large companies".

2nd Winner: 

Belén Delgado, editor of EFEAgro, has been awarded second place with her works focused on the agrifood sector from the European perspective and sustainability: 'Conservation agriculture advances in Spain without carbon credits', 'How do carbon markets work?' (published on April 8) and 'The EU takes its first steps to certify carbon capture in agriculture' (published on April 11).

The jury highlighted "the keys offered to the agricultural sector to promote regenerative methods" in order to "inform and offer a guide to farmers on how to incorporate the benefits in their farms". In this case, it is considered that the media has addressed a clearly specialized audience.

3rd Winner:

As a novelty for the fifth anniversary, EIT Food has incorporated a third prize, which has gone to Erika Elizari, journalist of the program 'Teknopolis' of scientific dissemination in the Basque public television, Euskal Telebista. In this case, it has been valued how she has succeeded in touching "the three main keys that currently exist in terms of innovation and sustainability in the agrifood sector". In her report entitled 'Anticipating the challenges of food' deals with "cutting-edge issues", according to the jury. "It takes an interesting look at alternative proteins, soils and biodiversity, as well as innovation, with examples such as the effort to create consumer-friendly labeling."

This year's jury was made up of: Begoña Pérez-Villarreal, general director for Southern Europe at EIT Food; Victoria Moreno, research professor at CSIC; Lourdes Zuriaga, vice-president of APAE (Spanish Association of Agri-Food Journalists); José Luis Piñuel, professor emeritus of Journalism at the Complutense University of Madrid; and Jessica Nieto, journalist at El Mundo and winner of the previous edition.

Access to the gallery of images of the event here.

Congratulations to the winners!