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
Sarajevo | Bosnia & Herzegovina
Social Media
Name
Jan Zlatan KulenovicBio
Jan Zlatan Kulenović is the founder of the Social Innovation Incubator MUNJA, a leading NGO in youth empowerment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, running the most visited youth portal Star.Study with 100,000 followers.. He served as the country representative for several international programs: Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment, and the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency. With over 20 years of senior management experience in multi-donor funded programs across the Western Balkans, Jan holds an MA in Social Development Practice from London Metropolitan University and is a fellow of many prestigious international programs. A world debate champion (IDEA) and former TV host, Jan is passionate about traveling, having visited nearly 90 countries across six continents.
Statement
I believe that healthy soil is not just the foundation of agriculture but a pillar of climate resilience and sustainable communities. As a Mission Soil Ambassador, I would merge my passion for social impact with environmental advocacy — engaging young people, raising awareness about soil preservation, and building networks that inspire collective action.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Tórshavn | Faroe Islands
Social Media
Name
Kolbrún í HaraldsstovuBio
Kolbrún í Haraldsstovu is a plant ecologist and Head of the Department of Botany at the Faroe Islands National Museum. Her primary focus is on ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation, where she has worked together with farmers to establish the very first designated nature areas in the Faroe Islands. As project leader of the Lendisbati (LandAid) restoration initiative, she oversees efforts to restore and study degraded natural habitats. Her work also includes research on biodiversity and ecosystem health by monitoring environmental changes due to land use and climate change.
As a passionate nature advocate, she actively works to raise awareness on the Faroese terrestrial environment and the need to strengthen nature’s resilience to climate change for future generations.
Statement
We must protect what we know we can’t bring back. Raising awareness on land degradation in the Faroe islands is a constant uphill battle. Thankfully the Faroe islands are composed of mountainous landscapes, so walking uphill is all I’ve ever done. I hope to one day become the voice that nature deserves.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Tbilisi | Georgia
Name
Mariam JorjadzeBio
Mariam Jorjadze - biologist, with more than 25 years of professional experience in the areas of agroecology, organic farming, agricultural biodiversity, Geographical Indications and rural development.
Since 2003 a director of the Biological Farming Association Elkana, a Georgian non-governmental organization established in 1994, aiming at improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Georgian population and environmental protection through the fostering the development of sustainable organic farming and increasing self-reliance of the rural population. Elkana provides extension service to its members, is involved in conservation of agricultural diversity & traditional knowledge, rural development and advocacy, reaching over 2,500 households of rural areas of Georgia.
Statement
As a person working on agroecology, organic farming, and agricultural biodiversity conservation I deeply understand importance of soil health. Through advocacy and education, I aim to empower communities to adopt regenerative practices, ensuring healthy soils for future generations. I look forward to contributing to this mission.
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
Location
Tallinn | Estonia
Social Media
Name
Robin SaluoksBio
Robin Saluoks is the CEO of eAgronom, a leading regenerative agriculture platform in Europe, empowering thousands of farmers managing over 2.5 million hectares. eAgronom pioneers breakthrough farm-level data collection technologies and conducts field trials across Europe to promote soil-friendly practices directly within farmers' communities. Robin has been recognized as the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneur of the Year and featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to sustainable agriculture and innovation.
Statement
eAgronom began in 2016 as a Farm Management Software, with its first prototype already featuring a humus balance calculator. There was no business motive behind it—we simply wanted farmers to see how every decision impacts their soil. Like any production system, farming relies on its "factory"—the environment. At its core, soil is the heart of this factory, and improving it not only enhances sustainability but also boosts farm efficiency.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Montenegro
Social Media
Name
Aleksandra KapetanovićBio
Aleksandra Kapetanović is a conservation architect and co-founder of EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, an NGO active for over 25 years in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, and urban planning. She has led numerous projects, studies, and researches related to cultural heritage. Her work focuses on traditional architecture and cultural landscapes, integrating nature and human influence. In recent years, she has focused particularly on the cultural landscapes of seasonal mountain settlements—katuns. Currently, she is an associate of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije, working on a proposal to list katuns as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).
Statement
Among the most significant segments of cultural heritage are cultural landscapes, particularly agricultural landscapes, where soil plays an integral role. Through our activities, we identify and promote the values of cultural landscapes, define guidelines for their protection and support the active involvement of local communities in their maintenance. I hope that we can help raise awareness of the importance of soil protection as an integral part of cultural landscape and heritage preservation.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
Cyprus
Social Media
Name
Demetris TaliotisBio
Demetris Taliotis is the Chief Olive Oil Obsessive at Aparthenasa, an agrocraft estate focusing on the production of terroir-driven extra virgin olive oil from Cyprus. He is a graduate of the prestigious Expert Course in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting of the University of Jaén and a member of O.N.A.O.O. His varied involvement with land stewardship spans a multifarious career in agri-food and FMCG marketing, location and countryside management, and expansive research interests at the cross-sections of transversal agriculture, disruptive innovation, organoleptic variability and the cultural and creative industries. Demetris has led and consulted numerous regenerative ventures and is also a partner to various agroecological projects.
Statement
The profound importance of soil for me as a farmer and land manager can not be overstated. A primary and irreplaceable asset - and also an invaluable collaborator - soil is intertwined with both the way I produce olive oil and the product itself. This synergistic and reverberating nature of healthy soil is one that I am committed on highlighting with my involvement in research projects and by actively sharing the knowledge generated everyday across my groves, locally and further afield.
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
Skopje | North Macedonia
Social Media
Name
Dushko MukaetovBio
Dushko Mukaetov is a Full Professor of Soil Science at the Institute of Agriculture at the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje. During his professional career, he has participated in the development and implementation of numerous scientific and applied projects in the field of soil science.
He has contributed to the preparation of sectoral reports on agriculture in the last three National Communications on Climate Change and all biennial Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
He is a key expert in the development of the Macedonian Soil Information System (MASIS).
Additionally, he served as the lead expert in developing the National Objectives for Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
Prof. Mukaetov is a national focal point member of the FAO Global Soil Partnership.
Statement
Soil is the foundation of life, sustaining agriculture, biodiversity, and ecosystems. Its health is crucial for food security, climate resilience, and environmental balance, making its protection essential for present and future generations. As a professor and researcher of Soil Science, my work revolves around studying soil properties, spatial distribution, and sustainable management. To ensure long-term soil health, I engage in scientific research, policy development, and education.
Specific Mission Soil Objectives
Location
MENA region | Morocco
Social Media
Name
Fatna Ikrame EL FANNEBio
Fatna Ikrame EL FANNE is an Environmental Engineer with two Master’s degrees in Water and Environmental Management and Engineering from Mohammed V University, Morocco, and Environmental Engineering from Suzhou University, China. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Harbin Institute of Technology. A passionate climate advocate, Ikrame co-founded "Youth for Climate Morocco," an NGO dedicated to empowering youth and driving sustainable solutions. Her leadership in environmental initiatives has made her a sought-after speaker at conferences, effectively bridging academia, industry, and policy-making for impactful change.
Statement
As an Environmental Engineer and co-founder of Youth for Climate Morocco, I recognize the vital role of healthy soil in ecological and community resilience. My NGO educates on sustainable land management and plans to expand soil literacy through partnerships with schools and local governments. By empowering youth with soil conservation tools, we aim to secure a sustainable future.