Call for Entries: APNI Photo Contest

The APNI Photo Contest invites individuals to submit high-quality photographs documenting nutrient deficiency symptoms in African crops or plant nutrition research in action. The contest offers US$250 and a certificate to one winner in each category and aims to create an educational visual resource supporting plant nutrition, soil health, agricultural research, and sustainable farming in Africa.

About the APNI Photo Contest

The APNI Photo Contest is an annual initiative of the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) focused on increasing awareness and knowledge about plant nutrition and soil health across Africa. The contest uses photography to document practical agricultural challenges, research activities, and field-based examples related to crop nutrition. Submitted photographs may contribute to a broader educational resource for researchers, agricultural professionals, students, farmers, and others interested in sustainable crop production and soil health. What Are the APNI Photo Contest Categories?

Participants can submit photographs in two categories

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Crops This category focuses on photographs showing visible nutrient deficiency symptoms in crops grown in Africa. Entries should help viewers understand the appearance and agricultural relevance of nutrient deficiencies. Photographs should be accompanied by descriptive information explaining: The crop shown. The nutrient deficiency or suspected deficiency. The location where the photograph was taken. The date of the photograph. Relevant agricultural or soil information. Why the image is relevant to plant nutrition. The category can help document real-world examples of nutrient-related crop problems and contribute to agricultural learning. Plant Nutrition Research in Action This category highlights photographs showing plant nutrition or soil health research being conducted in the field or other relevant settings. Images may demonstrate research connected to areas such as: The category emphasizes research that demonstrates how plant nutrition science can contribute to sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods. What Are the Prizes? A winner will be selected in each contest category.

Each category winner will receive:

US$250 cash prize. Certificate of acknowledgement. The awards recognize photographs that effectively communicate important aspects of crop nutrition, soil health, and agricultural research in Africa. Who Is Eligible? The contest is open to individuals who can submit photographs meeting the programme’s requirements. The key geographic requirement is that photographs must have been taken within Africa. Participants can submit photographs showing African agricultural crops, plant nutrition challenges, or research activities related to plant nutrition and soil health. How Many Photos Can You Submit? Each participant can submit up to five high-resolution photographs. Applicants should ensure that every submitted image satisfies the contest’s technical requirements and is accompanied by the required descriptive caption. What Information Must Be Included With Each Photograph? Every photograph must include a unique caption providing relevant context.

The caption should identify:

Subject: What the photograph shows.

Date: When the photograph was taken.

Relevance: Why the photograph fits the selected contest category.

A clear caption is important because it helps viewers understand the scientific, agricultural, or educational significance of the image. How to Participate in the APNI Photo Contest Applicants can follow a straightforward submission process.

Step 1: Select Your Photographs

Choose photographs that clearly relate to one of the two categories: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Crops. Plant Nutrition Research in Action. Make sure the photographs were taken in Africa.

Step 2: Check Image Quality

Submit high-resolution photographs that meet the contest’s technical requirements. Avoid submitting images that are unclear, excessively low-resolution, or otherwise unsuitable for educational or professional use.

Step 3: Prepare the Captions

Create a unique caption for every photograph. Include the subject, location, date, and explanation of relevance to the selected category.

Step 4: Choose the Appropriate Category

Clearly identify which category applies to each photograph. A photograph showing visible crop nutrient deficiency should be entered under Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Crops, while an image demonstrating plant nutrition or soil health research should be submitted under Plant Nutrition Research in Action.

Step 5: Submit Online

Entries must be submitted through the designated online submission form. Create educational resources for the agricultural community. Demonstrate links between plant nutrition and farmer livelihoods. What Makes a Strong Photo Entry? A competitive photograph should communicate a clear agricultural or scientific message.

Strong entries should:

Clearly demonstrate the selected topic. Have high visual quality. Provide useful scientific or agricultural context. Show a genuine field or research situation. Include an informative caption. Clearly identify the location and date. Explain why the photograph is relevant. Demonstrate the importance of plant nutrition or soil health. For the research category, photographs that effectively demonstrate practical research activities or innovative nutrient management approaches may be particularly useful. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Participants should avoid

Submitting photographs taken outside Africa. Exceeding the five-image limit. Submitting low-resolution photographs. Providing incomplete captions. Failing to identify the location or date. Choosing a category that does not match the photograph. Providing photographs without meaningful agricultural context. Missing the 31 October 2026 submission deadline. Key Facts About the APNI Photo Contest 2026

Contest: APNI Photo Contest.

Organizer: