EIT Food Journalism Awards 2024: Celebrating Excellence in Spain’s Agrifood Reporting

The event, which honours exceptional journalism in agrifood innovation and sustainability, set a record with 81 submissions. This year’s top accolades were awarded to Javier Bolaños of Canal Sur, Raquel Caparrós of TVE, and Beatriz Lecumberri of El País, who received €1,500, €1,000, and €500 respectively.

Begoña Pérez Villarreal, Director of EIT Food South, opened the event with an inspiring speech, emphasizing the importance of the agrifood system in enhancing both our environment and quality of life.

Javier Bolaños claimed first place with his story, TIC4BIO: Mixing Water and Oil, broadcast on Canal Sur Radio’s programme Cambio Climático on 26th August. His piece explored how a Spanish olive oil company collaborated with university researchers to innovate water-saving production techniques, reducing water usage from grove to factory.

“We have been determined to fight against nature, yet the best alternative is to collaborate with it and promote biodiversity,” Bolaños remarked.

Second place went to Raquel Caparrós and Xavier Arias from TVE’s El Escarabajo Verde for their documentary, The Invisible Shepherd. The programme highlighted how artificial intelligence is modernising livestock management in rural Spain. “AI is a useful tool for preserving ancient jobs, such as shepherding,” Caparrós noted. The technology enables farmers to remotely manage herds using advanced tracking and virtual fencing systems, merging tradition with sustainability.

Beatriz Lecumberri earned third place for her article A New Strategy Against Hunger in Gaza: Feeding Animals to Feed People, published on 28th April in El País’s Planeta Futuro section. The story detailed a UN initiative providing livestock feed to support food production in Gaza, addressing malnutrition in the region.

The awards also recognised the following journalists and their impactful work:

• José María Rodríguez (El Mundo): Mango! The Experimental Farm That Made Spain More Tropical
• Patricia Biosca (ABC): The EU Revives the Debate on Genetically Modified Foods
• Alba Martínez Vallejo and Eduardo Laplaza (TVE, El Escarabajo Verde): Scraping the Plate
• Ana Carbajosa (El País): The "European Lifestyle" Suffocating Africa’s Public Health
• Miguel Ángel Mainar (Agronegocios): Conservation Agriculture to Restore Nature
• Miguel Ángel Medina (El País): School Canteens Transforming into Sustainable and Healthy Food Spaces
• Xavier Royo and Laura Arribas (TVE, El Escarabajo Verde): Sowing Forgotten Seeds

The awards ceremony also featured a panel discussion titled Healthy Habits and Food Safety: Challenges and Opportunities Across Generations. Participants included Susana Belmonte Cortés, head of the Nutrition and Lifestyle Division of the Madrid Region; José María González Morón, headteacher at Colegio Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba; Gregorio Varela Moreiras, director of the CEU Institute of Food and Society; and Julio Carlavilla Torrijo, Communications Director at Citi. The session was moderated by Leticia López, Project Manager at EIT Food.

Key topics spanned nutrition, emotional well-being, and age-inclusive health strategies. Belmonte emphasised three pillars of a healthy life: “a balanced diet, physical activity, and emotional well-being,” advocating for universal health literacy as a foundation.

González discussed initiatives like Los Salvacomidas in school dining rooms, which actively involve children in sustainable eating habits. Meanwhile, Varela highlighted the challenges faced by older populations, noting the impact of loneliness and ageism on health. “We need to make life easier for our elderly,” he stressed.

Carlavilla brought attention to AMPLE, a social innovation project by EIT Food and supported by Citi, which aids vulnerable communities through agrifood sector resources and training. “AMPLE creates significant opportunities in challenging sectors such as hospitality and agriculture,” he remarked.

The session concluded with a shared vision: fostering education and collaboration for a healthier and more inclusive society.