In Flanders, a significant proportion of manure surpluses is processed each year. A well-functioning and constantly innovating manure processing sector is essential for keeping nutrient surpluses under control, closing nutrient cycles and meeting increasingly stringent environmental targets.

To stimulate innovation in the sector, the Flemish Coordination Centre for Manure Processing (VCM) awards the Ivan Tolpe Prize every two years. This international innovation prize, a tribute to the late Ivan Tolpe, recognises practical and market-ready technologies that contribute to sustainable and cost-effective manure processing.

Ivan Tolpe

Ivan Tolpe was a farmer and entrepreneur, and a true pioneer in manure processing. He developed several manure processing plants and played a key role in the sector’s development. Following his unexpected death in 2013, VCM established the Ivan Tolpe Prize as a lasting tribute to his entrepreneurship, innovative spirit and vision. Through this prize, VCM aims to support promising innovations and further strengthen Flanders’ leading role in the field of manure processing.

Who is it for?

The competition is open to:

• companies and organisations;
• agricultural and horticultural businesses;
• research and educational institutions;
• scientists;
• individual innovators.
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The submitted technology or concept must:

• address a demand-driven problem within the sector;
• be innovative and market-ready;
• contribute to sustainable and cost-effective manure processing;
• be applicable in the Flemish context.

Themes

All aspects of manure processing are eligible, with particular focus on:

• technological innovation;
• process optimisation;
• energy efficiency;
• reduction of environmental emissions;
• recovery and valorisation of nutrients;
• reuse of raw materials from manure.

What can you win?

The winner will receive:

• an award and certificate;
• a cash prize of €2,000;
• visibility through VCM’s communication channels;
• the opportunity to present the project at the international ManuREsource Congress 2028, including free attendance at the congress.

The other nominees will also have the opportunity to present their technology at ManuREsource 2028 and will receive a certificate of nomination.

Jury and assessment

Entries will be assessed by an expert jury comprising representatives from VCM, scientific experts and specialists from the sector. Projects will be evaluated on the basis of three main criteria:

• Applicability and market readiness (40%)
• Innovative nature (30 %)
• Sustainability (30 %)

From all entries, the jury will select a minimum of two and a maximum of four nominees.

Timeline

Submission of entries: by Friday 12 March 2027 at the latest

Announcement of nominees: by Friday 23 April 2027 at the latest

Awards ceremony: during the VCM General Meeting in May 2027

During the awards ceremony, the nominees will present their projects to those present. VCM members will then vote on the projects and the winner will be announced.

How to enter?

The entry form can be downloaded from this website.

The full competition rules are also available for consultation.

The fully completed entry form must be submitted by email to info@vcm-mestverwerking.be by 12 March 2027 at the latest. Upon receipt, the candidate will receive confirmation of their entry.

Do you have an innovative manure processing technique that is ready for practical application? Then submit your application for the Ivan Tolpe Prize 2027 and help shape the future of sustainable manure processing.

Ivan Tolpe was a farmer and entrepreneur, and a true pioneer in manure processing. He developed several manure processing plants and played a key role in the sector’s development. Following his unexpected death in 2013, VCM established the Ivan Tolpe Prize as a lasting tribute to his entrepreneurship, innovative spirit and vision. Through this prize, VCM aims to support promising innovations and further strengthen Flanders’ leading role in the field of manure processing.

Who is it for?

The competition is open to students at a university or university of applied sciences who have completed a professional bachelor’s or master’s dissertation in the two academic years preceding the award ceremony. Academic bachelor’s dissertations are not eligible.

The submitted thesis must: 

• relate to manure processing or nutrient recovery;
• address a demand-driven challenge from the Flemish manure processing sector;
• be innovative in nature;
• contribute to more sustainable, efficient or economically viable manure processing.

Themes

All aspects of manure processing are eligible, with particular focus on:

• innovative processing technologies;
• energy efficiency;
• nutrient recovery and valorisation;
• valorisation of other by-products from manure;
• process optimisation within the manure processing sector.

What can you win?

The winner will receive:

• an award and certificate;
• a cash prize of €500;
• mention via the communication channels of VCM and De Mestverwerkers;
• the opportunity to present their research at the international ManuREsource Congress 2028, including free attendance at the congress.

The other nominees will also have the opportunity to present their research at ManuREsource 2028 and will receive a certificate of nomination.

Jury and assessment

Entries will be assessed by an expert jury comprising representatives from VCM, De Mestverwerkers, scientific experts and external specialists.

The projects will be assessed on the basis of four main criteria:

• Scientific quality;
• Innovative concept for the manure processing sector;
• Style, structure, readability and use of sector-specific terminology;
• Originality and absence of plagiarism

From all entries, the jury will select a minimum of one and a maximum of four nominees.

Timeline

• Submission of entries: by Friday 12 March 2027 at the latest
• Announcement of nominees: by Friday 23 April 2027 at the latest
• Award ceremony: during the VCM General Meeting at the end of May 2027

During the awards ceremony, the nominees will present their research to the public in a short presentation. VCM and De Mestverwerkers members will then cast their votes, and the winner will be announced.

How to enter?

The entry form can be downloaded from this website.

The full competition rules are also available for consultation.

The fully completed entry form must be submitted by email to info@vcm-mestverwerking.be by 12 March 2027 at the latest. Upon receipt, the candidate will receive confirmation of their entry.

Have you carried out research that could contribute to the future of sustainable manure processing? If so, submit your application for the Ivan Tolpe Student Prize 2027 and put your research in the spotlight of the Flemish manure processing sector.

In collaboration with vzw De Mestverwerkers