Glinka World Soil Prize
The Glinka World Soil Prize Selection Committee is proud to announce this year’s winner: Professor Ganlin Zhang.
About the prize
The prize comes in the form of a USD 15 000 check and a Glinka gold-plated medal. It aims to raise awareness among policy makers and the general public about possible solutions to tackle acute national and local problems of soil degradation, and to encourage all stakeholders and soil practitioners to engage in field-oriented work, with direct contributions to the preservation of the environment, food security and poverty alleviation as specified in the Revised World Soil Charter.
Who can submit nominations?
Candidates can only be nominated by a FAO Members’ focal point to the GSP or the permanent representations to FAO, following the established procedures endorsed by the Thirteenth Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (Revised rules of procedure of the Glinka World Soil Prize). Self-nominations or nominations by individuals are not accepted. Nominations can be submitted in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic or Chinese.
Who can be nominated?
Nominees should have made outstanding achievements in implementing the principles and recommended actions of the revised World Soil Charter adopted by the FAO Conference in June 2015, and the achievement should contribute to the GSP action areas (a proven impact at the field level will be considered an added value).
How does the nomination process lead to a Laureate?
The GSP Secretariat examines the submitted nominations. A shortlist of the most qualified nominees is then submitted to the World Soil Prize Selection Committee for evaluation and final decision.The Glinka World Soil Prize Selection Committee is composed of several members: a representative from the Russian Federation, a representative of the GSP Secretariat, the Chair or Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel of Soils (ITPS), the Chair or Vice Chair of the 13th GSP’s Plenary Assembly.
The Laureate will be announced during WSD on 5 December, and the selected individual or institution will receive the prize at the global WSD celebration organized by FAO and the GSP. The Laureate will also be given the opportunity to deliver a lecture during the opening of the following GSP Plenary Assembly.
Past editions
- Edition 2025
- Edition 2024
- Edition 2023
- Edition 2022
- Edition 2021
- Edition 2020
- Edition 2019
- Edition 2018
- Edition 2017
- Edition 2016
Current sponsor of the Glinka World Soil Prize
the Russian Federation
Who was Konstantin Dmitrievich Glinka 
Konstantin Glinka (1867-1927) was a prominent Russian soil scientist who is credited for his unique contribution to understanding the principles of the geographical distribution of soils and extensive activities on the exploration, mapping and assessment of vast areas of Siberia, the Far East and Central Asia, as well as his important studies in the areas of soil mineralogy, chemistry and paleopedology.