Press and News From local roots to a global story: Agrobiodiversity photo contest draws stories from more than 30 countries
Public and jury voting now open for the world’s first global “Photo With a Story” contest dedicated to agrobiodiversity.
What can a farmer’s field, a traditional seed, a family meal or a local landscape tell the world about resilience?
More than 90 photographers and storytellers from over 30 countries are answering that question through the first edition of the global Photo With a Story Contest dedicated to agrobiodiversity. Launched around the theme “Agrobiodiversity as Roots of Resilience in a Changing World and Geopolitical Turmoil,” the contest reveals a powerful common thread across continents: agrobiodiversity is rooted in local places and cultures, yet its role in building resilient food systems resonates around the world.
Public voting and jury review are now open for all qualifying photo stories. People everywhere are invited to discover the stories and vote for the entry that most resonates with them. At the same time, an independent jury of 10 members will select the three Jury Award winners and two Honourable Mentions.
The winning stories will share a €4,500 prize pool and will be showcased at major international events in October, including the World Food Forum in Rome, Biodiversity COP17 in Yerevan, and World Food Day in The Hague.
Putting the stories behind agrobiodiversity on the global stage
Agrobiodiversity is increasingly recognised as fundamental to resilient food systems, yet much of the global conversation is told through statistics, indicators and policy targets.
The Photo With a Story Contest takes a different approach: putting people and their stories at the centre.
The photographs and accompanying narratives reveal the lived realities behind agrobiodiversity — from farmers conserving traditional varieties and communities safeguarding food traditions to landscapes where biodiversity and food production are co-existing in balance.
The contest was launched on the International Day for Biological Diversity by the Agrobiodiversity Index team at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and glocolearning, with support from the Food Planet Prize, in partnership with the Agroecology Coalition, Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems Coalition, Act4Food, The Netherlands Food Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, Wageningen University & Research, Dan Saladino, and The Great Full.
The initiative complements the Agrobiodiversity Index, a scientific, data-driven tool developed by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT that measures and monitors agrobiodiversity across food systems, winner of the prestigious Food Planet Prize in 2023. By bringing stories and images into the conversation, the contest adds what data alone cannot capture: the people, cultures, knowledge and practices that make agrobiodiversity real.
Public voting is now open for all qualifying entries.
The public can vote for the photo with a story that most speaks to them. An independent jury assessed the finalists based on relevance to the theme, storytelling and narrative, visual impact, originality and perspective, authenticity and context, and changemaking potential.
The Public Voting Award will be determined by public votes, while the jury will select the Jury Awards and Honourable Mentions.
How to vote
VOTE HERE OR THROUGH scanning THE QR CODE BELOW
- Public voting closes: 7 October 2026
- Winners announced: 12 October 2026
In October, award-winning photo stories will then travel to four international venues:
|
Date |
Event |
Location |
|
19–30 October 2026 |
Biodiversity COP17 |
Yerevan, Armenia |
|
20 October 2026 |
NFP World Food Day |
The Hague, The Netherlands |
|
26 October 2026 |
Symposium on Neglected & Underutilized Species at Wageningen University & Research |
Wageningen, The Netherlands |
Awards
- 1 Public Voting Award: €1,000
- 3 Jury Awards: 1st Place (€1,500), 2nd Place (€1,000), 3rd Place (€500)
- 2 Honourable Mentions: €250 each
- 5 additional stories will be selected for exhibition, beyond the award winners
All winning and selected entries will be exhibited internationally, and awarded submissions may also be considered for publication in international media outlets.
“This first edition has shown us that agrobiodiversity is not only a scientific or policy issue — it is a deeply human story,” said Dr. Roseline Remans, co-creator of the Agrobiodiversity Index and founder of glocolearning. “The submissions show how people around the world are protecting and using diversity in crops, livestock, landscapes, diets and knowledge to build more resilient futures. These are local stories, but their message is global.”
About the Agrobiodiversity Index
The Agrobiodiversity Index, developed by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. The Index supports the measurement and monitoring of agrobiodiversity across food systems, landscapes, diets, and production systems worldwide.
Media contact
- Roseline Remans - Co-creator of Agrobiodiversity Index & founder of glocolearning ([email protected])
Help us pick the Public Award winner
Cover Image: Agroecological practices in Doyogena, Ethiopia. Photo Credit: @2025CIAT/O. Kimani
