Ella Van de vreken wins EU-FarmBook Student Prize

Ghent University awards master graduate Ella Van de vreken with the second EU-FarmBook Student Prize, highlighting the power of connecting academic research with real-world farming practices.

During her master’s studies at Ghent University, Ella developed a strong interest in the cork oak ecosystems of southern Europe after an inspiring Erasmus experience in Portugal. Collaborating with the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (University of Lisbon) and Portuguese cork producers, she focused her thesis on improving the prediction of cork yield. Her innovative approach combined field data, remote sensing and advanced growth modelling to enhance the digital tools currently used by cork farmers.

Her work contributes to more sustainable and informed management of cork oak stands — a system vital to both the Mediterranean environment and rural economies.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to knowledge transfer and practical innovation, Ella received the second EU-FarmBook Student Prize. The jury commended her for successfully translating complex academic research into accessible insights that directly support farmers, forest managers and educators.

Reflecting on her experience, Ella emphasized the importance of two-way communication between researchers and farmers:

“It’s essential that we listen to farmers, understand their local realities, and make research results accessible in ways that are useful to them.”

Her story also underscores a broader goal shared by the EU-FarmBook community — to bridge the gap between research and practice through digital platforms, collaborative networks, and open access to knowledge.

The master dissertation presentation “Modeling the Cork Thickness Distribution in Portuguese Cork Oak Stands” by Ella Van de vreken, supervised by Prof. Dr. Ir. Verbeeck (Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering) and Prof. Margarida Tomé (University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior de Agronomia) will soon be available on EU-FarmBook.

Explore this research to gain insights into innovative modeling approaches that enhance the understanding and management of cork oak ecosystems in Portugal: https://youtu.be/cnltohI0fjs