The Earth Prize 2026: Teenager from Czechia named among top 35 global teams in $100K global competition for glowing fishing nets
- The Earth Prize is the world’s largest environmental competition and incubator for young people, equipping 13-19 year olds with mentorship, resources and funding
- Since 2021, the prize has reached 21,000 students, across 169 countries and territories, and awarded over $500K to turn ideas into impact
- Each year, 35 top-contender teams are selected as Scholars, representing seven global regions and the most promising youth-led solutions worldwide
- From 11–17 May, seven Regional Winners will be announced, each receiving $12.5K to accelerate their innovation in the real world
- Czechia's team Fluronet has invented a light-reactive glowing fishing net that makes lost gear easier to find and remove
GENEVA, Switzerland, 14 April - In an effort to reduce ocean pollution, teenager Kristýna Říhová has been named among the top 35 global teams in The Earth Prize 2026, the world’s largest environmental competition and incubator for young people aged 13-19 years. Representing the region of Europe, Kristýna’s solution is ‘Fluoronet’, a light-reactive glowing fishing net that makes lost gear easier to find and remove.
After finding out about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (46% of which is comprised of lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing nets) and the fact that over 650,000 marine animals die each year entangled in ghost nets, Kristýna set about finding a solution. Fluoronet is a 'glowing' fishing net that can be easily identified by anyone, not only the net owner, once activated by an external light source. The nets are as strong as traditional nylon alternatives and do not require any additional equipment, making them more cost-effective and accessible than other solutions like GPS tracking.
Following laboratory testing in the US, Kristýna is now seeking partnerships to develop an industrial prototype, scale production and carry out a two-year field test in Costa Rica with Justice for Nature.
Kristýna Říhová impressed The Earth Prize’s expert jury with the project, being only one of five teams selected to represent the region of Europe. She explained:
I am really excited to be part of the Earth Prize, and it is such an honor to be selected as one of the scholars. A lot of people wonder why my project focuses on ocean protection when I come from a landlocked country. I think sometimes we don’t realize how interconnected our ecosystems are and how important the ocean is for all of us. I hope this shows that where you’re from doesn’t limit what you can care about or what you can achieve.
Now in its fifth year, The Earth Prize has reached over 21,000 students across 169 countries and territories. Previous winners have been featured in leading international media including Forbes, Business Insider (US and Africa), The Irish Times, and UN Today, with several teams advancing their ideas through patents and corporate partnerships.
This year’s teams represent seven global regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Oceania and Southeast Asia. Their solutions span a wide range of innovations, from an ocean-cleaning robot, to fog-powered drinking water, and an AI-driven drought predictor.
The Earth Prize is run by The Earth Foundation, a non-profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded during the School Strike for Climate in 2019. At a time when climate anxiety affects a majority of young people - 59% reporting they are very or extremely worried about the environment - the Prize provides a pathway from concern to action, equipping students with the tools to develop tangible, real-world solutions.
The 2026 Earth Prize Scholars represent an extraordinary wave of ingenuity and determination from young people around the world. This year’s applicants have once again shown that age is no barrier to tackling complex environmental challenges with creativity and purpose. As we look ahead to announcing our regional winners in May, we are inspired by the bold thinking and real-world impact already demonstrated by this year’s cohort.
The next stage of the competition will see seven Regional Winners announced from 11–17 May, each representing one of the seven global regions and receiving $12.5K to accelerate their innovation. This will be followed by a public vote, with the global winner announced on Friday 29 May.