The European award recognizing excellence in reporting on sustainable food systems was presented in Venice during Venice Climate Week 2026.
Venice, Italy — June 5, 2026 — Seven journalists from six European countries have been recognized with the SWITCH Journalism Award 2026, a European prize established within the Horizon Europe-funded SWITCH project to celebrate high-quality journalism covering the transformation of food systems.
Presented during Venice Climate Week 2026, the award honors journalists who effectively communicate the environmental, social, cultural, and public health dimensions of sustainable food systems, helping to strengthen public understanding at a critical moment for Europe’s food policy agenda.
The award ceremony featured remarks from Sara Roversi, Founder of Future Food Institute; Roberto Zalambani, President of UNARGA (Italian National Union of Agricultural and Environmental Journalists); and Edoardo Pierantozzi, documentary filmmaker and content creator known as Eddyverso, creator of the project Pescatori di Questo Mondo.
The 2026 SWITCH Journalism Award Winners
Awards were presented across the linguistic categories represented by the SWITCH Food Hubs, alongside an international English-language category:
- Arnaud Gauthier — French-language category
- Anna Lindelöw Mannheimer — Swedish-language category
- Eric Berdaguer — German-language category
- Patricia Biosca — Spanish-language category
- Stina Berge — International English-language category
- Verdiana Fronza — Italian-language category
- Federica Rossi — Italian-language category
The winners were selected through a multi-stage process that included nominations from SWITCH Food Hubs across Europe, followed by a public voting phase hosted on the SWITCH platform.
International Dialogue on Food Systems and Climate Action
Following the award ceremony, the journalists joined the workshop “FOOD FOR CLIMATE | Cities, Food Systems & Climate Action — Tides of Change: the FAO Global Roadmap in Venice.”
The discussion brought together leading voices from food governance, sustainability, and climate innovation, including:
- David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division at FAO
- Sara Roversi, Founder of Future Food Institute and Co-Founder of Venice Climate Week
- Paul Polman, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist
- Merijn Dols, innovation catalyst for circular economy and food systems
- Hunter Lovins, President and Founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions
- Steven M. Finn, University of Pennsylvania and Vice President for Sustainability and Public Affairs at Leanpath
The conversation explored the role of cities as laboratories for food and climate innovation, the contribution of FAO’s global roadmap for agrifood systems transformation, and practical solutions to reduce food waste and promote sustainable diets at urban and regional levels.
Learning from the Lagoon: A Field Experience in Venice
The SWITCH Press Tour extended beyond the award ceremony. On June 4, the winning journalists took part in an immersive educational boat tour through the Venetian Lagoon led by Giovanni Cecconi, hydraulic engineer and founder of Core Venice Lab.
The excursion provided participants with a first-hand exploration of Venice’s flood protection infrastructure, sediment management strategies, and Nature-Based Solutions. Cecconi guided the group through the functioning of the MOSE flood barrier system while illustrating the delicate balance between human activity and the lagoon ecosystem, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of adaptation in a changing climate.
