A Key to Climate Action Lies in the Soil – Competitors at SOILATHON Sought Solutions for Healthier Soils

The condition of our soils fundamentally determines the future of agricultural production, food security, and the environmental legacy we leave to future generations. Climate change, increasingly frequent droughts, and the decline of soil organic matter content – a key indicator of soil degradation – are challenges that require scientifically sound yet practical responses from agriculture. Addressing these issues was the aim of the Hungarian SOILATHON innovation challenge, organised as part of the Soil Innovation Partnership (SIP) initiative by the National CAP Network and the Institute for Soil Sciences of the HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research. During the full-day professional event held in mid-June at the Institute of Agricultural Economics, young professionals and innovators developed proposals aimed at improving soils’ capacity for carbon storage and carbon sequestration through carbon farming practices.

Participants were supported by a series of expert presentations. Zsófia Bakacsi, researcher at the Institute for Soil Sciences, spoke about the importance of soil health; Erzsébet Sztahura highlighted the problem of soil organic matter loss; while Lívia Kránitz presented the coordinating role of the National CAP Network. Together, the presentations underscored that soil conservation is no longer solely an agricultural issue but a key component of climate adaptation, sustainable land management, and long-term food production.

During the day-long competition, five teams developed innovative solutions with clear practical relevance. According to the expert jury, first place was awarded to the Földi Erők (Forces of the Earth) team. Their concept combined digital soil assessment, no-till cultivation, and the use of cover crops, offering an integrated approach to soil conservation challenges in arable farming.

Second place went to the Jászsági Gazdák (Farmers of the Jászság Region) team, which proposed the establishment of regional knowledge centres linking research, education, and practical farming. Third place was awarded to the Városi Talajok (Urban Soils) team, whose proposal addressed soil protection through the development of urban green spaces and the enhancement of soil carbon content in urban environments.

The entries were evaluated by a panel of recognised experts, including Tünde Takács, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Soil Sciences; Judit Berényi Üveges, Senior Researcher at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture; Erzsébet Sztahura, agricultural engineer and soil science specialist at the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture; and Péter László, Vice-President of the Hungarian Soil Science Society. The jury was chaired by Pál Goda, Managing Director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics.

The teams finishing in first and second place will represent Hungary at the European SOILATHON competition, to be held on 23 September 2026.