Mission Soil Ambassadors are committed advocates working to raise awareness about soil health, improve soil literacy across society, or for environmental sustainability. Coming from diverse backgrounds and selected for their outstanding contributions in areas such as sustainable agriculture and businesses, biodiversity, conservation, and scientific and environmental communication, these Ambassadors promote the importance of soil health at local, regional, national, or European levels.
Ambassadors support the goals of the Mission Soil by fostering collaboration, encouraging action to protect and restore soil, and engaging with communities and networks. Through public outreach, education, and peer-to-peer learning, they connect communities, stakeholders, and initiatives, helping to build a more resilient future for Europe’s soil.
Check their profiles below and learn more about the Mission Soil Platform.
The ambassadors act in their personal capacity and do not represent the European Commission. The views and opinions expressed by the ambassadors are solely their own and do not reflect the official position of the European Commission.
The Ambassadors
Location
Poland
Social Media
Name
Anna DanylczenkoBio
Anna Danylczenko is the founder of Grunt od Nowa, a foundation dedicated to soil regeneration and sustainable agriculture. As a Soil Advocate with the global organization Kiss the Ground, she actively promotes regenerative farming practices that enhance soil health while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and agricultural chemicals. She continuously expands her expertise through specialized courses in regenerative agriculture across Europe and the U.S. In collaboration with a team of scientists at Grunt od Nowa, she develops innovative agricultural technologies that improve crop yields and profitability while aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal. Her foundation also implements regenerative solutions for cities and businesses.
Statement
Soil is the foundation of life, essential for food production, healthy ecosystems, and climate resilience. Through Grunt od Nowa, I develop regenerative solutions that enhance soil health while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. I also promote nature-based urban solutions and advocate for sustainable land management.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Košice | Slovakia
Social Media
Name
Darina ŠtyriakováBio
Biotechnologist Darina Štyriaková is the founder and CEO of ekolive, the provider of an EU/ETV-certified and patented eco-innovative bioleaching method (InnoBioTech®) for the processing of of minerals and soil using bacteria, which holistically balances resource availability, climate, and nature conservation.
Darina and ekolive have already been recognised several times by leading global institutions for their innovation and impact potential, including WUR, CERES Award, Women TechEU, RegenAG Enabler, Technology Innovator and winner of the Startup Award Slovakia 2024. She regularly attends international congresses and participates in relevant projects with ekolive, most recently in the C-Sink project on atmospheric CO2 removal, being responsible for biological carbon fixation.
Statement
What drives and motivates me the most is that with our technology we are actually ‘only’ replicating the natural process of microbiotic soil formation and thus having incredible effects. With InnoBioTech® and the resulting effects and products, we can not only make a decisive contribution to the regeneration of agricultural soils and the conversion to organic or regenerative agriculture, but also enable the global fight against hunger through large-scale agriculture in harmony with nature.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Name
Dor OppenheimBio
Dor Oppenheim is the co-founder and CEO of ReGen, a soil health startup dedicated to regenerating the seed microbiome. He views seeds as the primary bearers of life and energy into the soil, thus requiring special attention and care to unlock new potential for soil health regeneration.
In addition to his work at ReGen, Dor has been actively involved in Israel’s fast-growing regenerative agriculture movement and played a key role in establishing RegenIL, the Israeli center for regenerative agriculture. Committed to soil restoration—both large and small—he leads his neighborhood’s community garden and co-founded MiyawakiIL, planting Israel’s first Miyawaki forest and adapting the reforestation method to provide water management solutions in the built environment.
Statement
I truly believe in the power of soil to change the world. When we shift our perspective from seeing soil as a mere resource to recognizing it as a sacred, living entity, our relationship with the land will transform—and with it, even many of our conflicts will begin to break down and compost. I’m excited to see how humanity will evolve by embracing soil and nature’s intelligence and wisdom.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Name
Jeroen WattéBio
Jeroen Watté is an agroecologist and innovation broker with over 20 years of experience supporting and connecting pioneers in regenerative agriculture and science. He likes to connect the dots with a systems view, be it in a documentary exploring how regenerative agriculture can address water challenges, or by organising the soil health conference.
As host of the Dutch podcast 'Pier review brengt de bodem tot leven', Jeroen amplifies the voices of soil regeneration pioneers. He championes practices like agroforestry, regenerative grazing, fungal compost and the system of root intensification to boost agroecosystem resilience. He is passionate to inspire experimentation in the science - policy - farming nexus to step up the performance of food systems. Jeroen was awarded De Bodemschep.
Statement
As a bio-engineer/anthropologist, I'm deeply awed by the power of nature, including ourselves as Homo cooperans. I am committed to bridging the gap between farming pioneers and their peers by working both on the revenue model, so that choosing for soil health makes sense economically, as well as on the horizontal knowledge transfer, imbibing a spirit of collaborative experimentation. Value chain networks where all stakeholders commit to resilience are the key to enable transformative change.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Lombardy, Sulzano | Italy
Social Media
Name
Matteo MazzolaBio
Matteo Mazzola is an influential agroecologist, educator and farms consultant, co-founder of Iside Farm, the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), and the rapidly growing Italian Microfarmers Agroecological network. As a leader in Italy's regenerative farming movement, he has significantly shaped agroecological agricultural methods in early times educating thousands of people. His educational outreach includes high-profile presentations, documentaries and interviews, advocating for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, discussing crucial topics like water management, soil rehabilitation and agroforestry. Matteo's work, featured on YouTube and podcasts platforms, promotes food sovereignty and regenerative practices aimed at sustaining local ecosystems and communities.
Statement
Soil is our present, past and future. As a dedicated regenerative farmer and educator, I enhance soil health with diverse, climate-resilient and ecological practices. I raise awareness through workshops and farm tours, promoting Agroecology online and in person. My next step is establishing a school on our farm to teach regenerative techniques and deepen our community's connection with the land, from farmers to consumers reaching the widest targets, because we all walk on the same ground.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Normandie | France
Social Media
Name
Perrine BulgheroniBio
Permaculture expert, Perrine Bulgheroni, founded the renowned Bec Hellouin farm, pioneering bio-intensive techniques yielding high productivity on small plots. Author of "Living with the Earth" and other influential works, she advocates for regenerative agriculture, fostering soil health and biodiversity. Now working on cooperative farming models, Perrine promotes collaborative food production and community resilience. As a Knight of the National Order of Merit, she's recognized for her dedication to sustainable practices. Now a consultant, teacher, and coach, Perrine shares her expertise globally, inspiring individuals and organizations to embrace permaculture for a more sustainable future: ecological principles can transform agriculture.
Statement
Soil is the foundation of life and the way to a thrilling future! My permaculture work centers on nurturing soil health through regenerative practices. I teach, consult, and inspire action for soil protection and restoration, fostering a deeper understanding of its vital role. Soil's alive! It's key to healthy ecosystems, food and climate.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Lochem | Netherlands
Social Media
Name
Anne van LeeuwenBio
Anne van Leeuwen worked on a museum about the relationship between humans and the rest of life at Artis Royal zoo and co-founded the Embassy of the North Sea in Amsterdam. In 2019, she started Bodemzicht farm and foundation with her partner Ricardo Cano Mateo in Malden. In March 2024 she moved to the 45 hectare Lenteland regenerative community farm 't Gagel in Lochem. She is in close contact with the regenerative movement in the Netherlands and a founding farmer of the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA).
Statement
I grew up with a lot of love for life. When I started farming I came to understand that the soil is the fundament of all of life and when we take care of ours soils, we are actually taking care of ourselves. Soil health and diversity is key for a resilient ecology, economy and society. At Gagel farm we work on growing healthy soil and nutritious food for our communities, and we teach and collaborate with many organisations to facilitate the transition to a regenerative (agri)culture.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Pannonian Basin and Danube watershed | Serbia and Croatia
Social Media
Name
Olivera Stojilović TrivunićBio
Olivera Stojilović Trivunić is a seasoned sustainability scientist and stakeholder engagement professional, currently serving as Head of Ecosystem Development at Foodscale Hub, an NGO focused on the WEFE Nexus with 25+ projects. She has held leadership roles in numerous H2020 projects and, with a strong background in environmental science, leads ecosystem-building initiatives across various HE projects, including RefreSCAR, SUNFUSION, and the EU-AU initiative INCiTiS-FOOD. Olivera has conducted research on various topics such as ecosystem services and impact of instabilities on fishing practices presenting at events and conferences such as ALSO. Her department specializes in life cycle assessments (LCA), science communication, and fostering synergies in sustainability projects.
Statement
Soil plays a vital role in land-sea interactions, watershed management, and the WEFE Nexus, making it crucial for sustainable ecosystems and climate resilience. It influences nutrient flow, water filtration, erosion control, and carbon sequestration among other. Through R&I, soil literacy can be enhanced by fostering cross-sector collaboration and stakeholder engagement; via awareness raising initiative and science communication, I aim to highlight soil's vital contribution to water and ecosystems.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Name
Tilen PraprotnikBio
After decades of amateur research into permaculture and regenerative agriculture, Tilen Praprotnik transitioned his professional career in archaeology to a new commercial pursuit of organic farming. Since its establishment in 2016, his farm has been one of the pioneers of regenerative agriculture and practical agroecology in Slovenia. The farm is a showcase of a vital and resilient farming environment. Its diverse farming operations are based on organic matter-rich and biologically active soils, while equally taking into account other ecological, economic and social aspects. Through on-farm education and involvement in various organizations and projects, Tilen Praprotnik has spread awareness that there is no civilization without agriculture and there is no agriculture without soil.
Statement
A shift in view from a techno-chemical centered approach to a holistic biological-ecosystem approach is vital. Only in this way can we observe and manage our soils within the broader ecosystem.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Sibenik-Knin county | Croatia
Social Media
Name
Irena AteljevicBio
Irena Ateljevic is the founder of Terra Meera, a Center for Regeneration in Croatia’s Šibenik-Knin County. With a PhD from New Zealand and teaching roles at universities worldwide, including the top sustainability-focused Wageningen University, Irena is a distinguished scholar, social entrepreneur, and senior policy advisor. A regular keynote speaker at international conferences, she amplifies her voice on global environmental challenges. As the founder of Regenerate Europe, an annual conference organized with Aspira University College in Split, she drives cross-sectoral regeneration. Her recent project, Ajmo Lokalno (Let's Go Local), developed with Šibenik-Knin County, promotes soil literacy and short food supply chains by connecting local farmers, businesses, and consumers.
Statement
Based in Croatia’s Šibenik-Knin County, a region shaped by the aftermath of the Croatian civil war and the rise of mass tourism reliant on imported industrial foods, I am committed to restoring abandoned lands and conserving organic soil carbon stocks. Through all my projects, I aim to improve soil literacy, raise awareness, and connect local farmers, businesses, and consumers to foster sustainable practices, grow regenerative farms, protect soil health, and inspire soil restoration efforts.