The award is intended to recognize an outstanding master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation on this topic that was written at the University of Hohenheim during the award period (the past 12 months). 

The evaluation criteria include, in particular, the innovative research concept and its successful methodological implementation, the practical relevance with clearly defined and realistic options for action, and the form of the presentation.

All faculty members at the University of Hohenheim have the right to make nominations.

The winners will be selected based on the criteria listed above and the submitted evaluation. From these, the (up to) two best papers will be identified, and the president of the foundation will then select the winners.

The prize is worth €1,000. The awards ceremony takes place annually on Dies Academicus.

Please submit the application, including a cover letter from the candidate (1 page), a brief evaluation by the supervisor (form - Gutachten), and a PDF of the thesis, by May 1, 2026, to the Institute of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (Ms. Zipp).

Contact: Dr. Marcus Giese, Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans Ruthenberg-Institut) .
Administrative Office: Andrea Zipp
Tel: 23322, E-mail: andrea.zipp@uni-hohenheim.de

Ausschreibung (German)

2026

Lina Marcela Ibarra Medina for her master thesis titled „Exploring the drivers of the adoption of agroecological practices in Zambia: A mixed-method approach“ (Supervision: Prof. Dr. Regina Birner)

Vida Mantey for her dissertation titled „Governance of smallholder agricultural carbon projects (SACPs): Evidence from Kenya“ (Betreuung: Prof. Dr. Regina Birner)

2025

Laura Fiedelak for her master thesis titled „Agro-Ecological Intensification and Food Security: A Mixed Methods Study of Small-Scale Farmers in Zambia”

David Becker for his master thesis titled „Effects of rainforest fragmentation on the resilience of trophic interaction networks between frugivorous birds and fruit-bearing trees”

2024

Angelina Stockinger for her master thesis titled „Effects of ecosystem restoration in Indonesian oil palm plantations on birds, bats and arthropods”

Laura Störzer for her master thesis titled „Biodiversity enrichment in Indonesian oil palm plantations is possible without compromising yields”

Natalie Peters for her master thesis titled „Application of solar tunnel dryer as a technology solution on agritourism-based cooperatives in central Vietnam”

2022

Ana Salvatierra Rojas

2021

Jane Friedericke Plöchl

2020

Dr. Kevin Thellmann
Dr. Reza Golbon

2019

Jessica Lloyd 
Lilli Scheiterle 

2018

Michael Kühnen
Lutz-Heiner Otto
Nadja Reinhardt