(08 November 2013) – The European Commission today announced the overall winner of its World You Like Challenge competition for the best solutions to climate change. The Portuguese project “Sown Biodiverse Pastures” was crowned winner for its innovative solution in reducing CO2 emissions, soil erosion and the risk of wild fires while increasing the productivity of pasturelands.
The “Sown Biodiverse Pastures” project involves over 1000 Portuguese farmers and provides them with seed mixtures adapted for specific soils which help increase the soil’s resilience to environmental instabilities.
The project, promoted by the Terraprima organisation, has led to improved soil fertility, water retention and erosion resistance as well as helped to increase the productivity of pastures across many parts of Portugal.
The two runners-up in the Challenge were also honoured at the ceremony:
- “Airport Carbon Accreditation” – This European project, based in Brussels, is a cooperation between 75 European airports which aim to improve their energy efficiency and lower their CO2 emissions. The programme was launched by the European airport trade body ACI EUROPE in 2009.
- “Low Energy Houses for Everyone” – This project by the Polish organisation Dworek Polski builds traditional Polish houses that are both affordable and low in energy consumption.