The theme of the second cycle of the Prix Pictet was Earth. Earth refers to the planet and the soil beneath our feet, to the marks that makes on the face of the land – either directly through the creation of mines, toxic waste, broken urban wastelands, vast refuse dumps and blasted desert landscapes; or indirectly, through the scars left by fire, flood or famine and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes or the migration of displaced people.

For the Earth award there were entries from 270 photographers, nominated by over seventy art and sustainability specialists from five continents. The shortlist of twelve photographers was presented at Les Rencontres d’Arles Festival on 9 July 2009.

The Prix Pictet Earth was awarded to Nadav Kander for his series Yangtze: The Long River by Kofi Annan at the opening of the exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists in Paris on 22 October 2009.

As part of the Prix Pictet award, the Partners of the Pictet Group invited Ed Kashi to undertake the second Commission, for which he produced the photographic series Madagascar: A Land Out of Balance.