Doha: HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Earthna Summit, organized by Qatar Foundation. The event, held under the theme 'Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge', showcased the announcement of the four winners of the 2025 Earthna Prize.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Summit was also graced by the presence of HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani. The gathering brought together global and local leaders, scientists, architects, activists, and artists to explore the integration of traditional knowledge and cutting-edge innovation for resilience and adaptation.
The Earthna Prize, launched on Earth Day in 2024 by Qatar Foundation's Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, honors projects demonstrating the fusion of traditional knowledge and innovation to address environmental challenges. The winning projects, selected from 12 finalists, will share a USD 1 million prize to further their work.
The four winners include the Farmer Tantoh Foundation from Cameroon, focusing on community water conservation, and Wuasikamas Econeera by Fundacion Suma Kausai from Colombia, which integrates Indigenous knowledge to protect biodiversity. Kenya's Seeds of Change Initiative by Blooming World International aims to combat food insecurity through traditional agricultural practices, while Thriving Fishers, Thriving Oceans by Blue Ventures partners with coastal communities in multiple countries to restore fisheries.
HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani emphasized the importance of cultural and environmental harmony in her speech at the Summit. Executive Director of Earthna, Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, praised the winners for their tradition-based innovations, highlighting the significance of revitalizing time-tested practices for sustainability.
The Earthna Prize trophy, designed by Nada El Kharashi, a local sustainability designer and alumna of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, symbolizes the impact of Earthna through its sculptural representation. The first call for submissions for the Earthna Prize attracted over 400 entries from more than 100 countries, with finalists selected by a panel of international environmental and cultural leaders. The Earthna Prize is awarded biennially, with details for the next edition to be announced later this year.