COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Soil Strategy for 2030 Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate
Date: 2021-11-17
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: EU strategy, biodiversity, circular economy, climate change, desertification, farming sector, forestry policy, land use, soil improvement, soil pollution, soil protection

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 17.11.2021  COM(2021) 699 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Soil Strategy for 2030    Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate {SWD(2021) 323 final}  
 
 
1.  INTRODUCTION  

Too  few  know  that  the  thin  layer  that  lies  below  our  feet  holds  our  future.  Soil  and  the 
multitude of organisms that live in it provide us with food, biomass and fibres, raw materials, 
regulate  the  water,  carbon  and  nutrient  cycles  and  make  life  on  land  possible.  It  takes 
thousands of years to produce a few centimetres of this magic carpet.  
Soil hosts more than 25% of all biodiversity on the planet1 and is the foundation of the food 
chains nourishing humanity and above ground biodiversity. This fragile layer will be expected 
to feed and filter drinking water fit for consumption to a global population of nearly 10 billion 
people by 20502.  

Healthy soils  are also  the largest  terrestrial carbon pool  on  the planet.  This  feature, coupled 
with their sponge-like function to absorb water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought, 
makes soil an indispensable ally for climate change mitigation and adaptation3. Healthy soils 
therefore  integrate  part  of  the  Union’s  climate,  biodiversity  and  also  long-term  economic 
objectives.  

The  EU’s  rich  soil  patrimony  features  a  myriad  soil  types  (covering  24  of  the  world’s  32 
major soil groups), each with its own identity and specific characteristics4. Such richness is an 
asset  that  needs  to  be  protected  and  preserved  for  future  generations.  Yet,  our  soils  are 
suffering. It has been estimated that about 60 to 70% of soils in the EU are not healthy5. Land 
and soil continue to be subject to severe degradation processes6 such as erosion, compaction, 
organic matter decline, pollution, loss of biodiversity, salinisation and sealing. This damage is 
the  result  of  unsustainable  land  use  and  management,  overexploitation  and  emissions  of 
pollutants. For example, every year, about 1 billion tonnes of soil are washed away by erosion 
in Europe7. Between 2012 and 2018 more than 400 km² of land was taken per year in the EU 
on a net basis8.  

Cropland and grasslands in the EU provide EUR 76 billion worth of ecosystem services per 
year: less than one third come from crop production, the rest from other ecosystem services9. 
However, while the benefits  of  healthy  soils and the costs of soil degradation  together  with 
the depletion of its ecosystem services are shared by the public and the land users, the latter 
have most of the prerogative on its use and management.  Furthermore, the value of the soil 
capital  must  be  properly  reflected  in  natural  capital  accounts  so  that  our  dependence  on  it 
becomes more visible. To avoid the risks and impacts that continued soil degradation has on 
the  economy  and  people’s  wellbeing,  soils  deserve  the  utmost  and  urgent  attention  of 
governments,  parliaments,  public  authorities  at  all  levels  as  well  economic  operators,  soil 
users, local communities and citizens10. 

Investing in prevention and restoration of soil degradation makes sound economic sense. As 
the  EU’s  largest  terrestrial  ecosystem,  healthy  soils  sustain  many  sectors  of  the  economy 
while soil degradation is costing the EU several tens of billion euros per year11. Management 

1 FAO (2020), State of knowledge of soil biodiversity - Status, challenges and potentialities. 
2 World Resources Institute (2019), Creating a sustainable food future. 
3 European Commission (2021), EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change – Impact assessment 
4 European Commission (2005), Soil Atlas of Europe. 
5 European Commission (2020), Caring for soil is caring for life. 
6 EEA (2019), The European Environment: State and Outlook 2020. 
7 Panagos P. et al (2015), The new assessment of soil loss by water erosion in Europe.  
8 https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/land-take-statistics#tab-based-on-data 
9 European Commission (2021), Accounting for ecosystems and their services in the EU (INCA) 
10 World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2018), The business case for investing in soil health. 
11 Estimated at EUR 50 billion in the report of the Mission board for Soil health and food (2020), “Caring for soil is caring for life”, 
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4ebd2586-fc85-11ea-b44f-01aa75ed71a1/  

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practices  that  sustain  and  enhance  soil  health  and  biodiversity  improve  cost  efficiency  and 
limit the inputs (e.g. pesticides, fertilisers) needed to  maintain  yields.  Halting and reversing 
current trends of soil degradation could generate up to EUR 1.2 trillion per year in economic 
benefits  globally12.  The  cost  of  inaction  on  soil  degradation,  which  outweighs  the  cost  of 
action by a factor of 6 in Europe13, goes beyond the economic calculation; it would not only 
lead  to  fertility  loss  comprising  global  food  security,  but  also  impact  on  the  quality  of 
products and their nutritional value. 

To  reap  the  benefits  of  healthy  soils  for  people,  food,  nature  and  climate,  the  EU  needs  a 
renewed  Soil  Strategy  that  sets  out  a  framework  and  concrete  measures  for  protecting, 
restoring and sustainably using soils and that mobilises the necessary societal engagement and 
financial resources, shared knowledge, sustainable practices and monitoring to reach common 
objectives.  The  strategy  is  closely  linked  and  works  in  synergy  with  the  other  EU  policies 
stemming from the European Green Deal and will underpin our ambition for global action on 
soil at international level. This will only be achieved through a combination of new voluntary 
and legally binding measures, presented here below, developed in full respect of subsidiarity 
and building on existing national soil policies. 

Figure 1: links between the EU Soil Strategy and other EU initiatives  

2.  VISION AND OBJECTIVES: ACHIEVING GOOD SOIL HEALTH BY 2050  

The vision for soil 

By 2050, all EU soil ecosystems are in healthy condition and are thus more resilient, which 
will require very decisive changes in this decade. 

By then, protection, sustainable use and restoration of soil has become the norm. As a key 
solution,  healthy  soils  contribute  to  address  our  big  challenges  of  achieving  climate 
neutrality  and  becoming  resilient  to  climate  change,  developing  a  clean  and  circular 
safeguarding  human  health,  halting 
loss, 
(bio)economy, 

reversing  biodiversity 

12 IPBES (2018), The assessment report on land degradation and restoration. 
13 Nkonya et al. (2016), Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement - A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development. 

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desertification and reversing land degradation.  

This new vision for soil is anchored in the EU biodiversity strategy for 203014 and the Climate 
Adaptation Strategy15. This Soil Strategy therefore builds on and will significantly contribute 
to several of the objectives of the Green Deal and objectives prior to that: 

Medium-term objectives by 2030 

  Combat  desertification,  restore  degraded  land  and  soil,  including  land  affected  by 
desertification,  drought  and  floods,  and  strive  to  achieve  a  land  degradation-neutral 
world (Sustainable Development Goal 15.3)16.  

  Significant  areas  of  degraded  and  carbon-rich  ecosystems,  including  soils,  are 

restored17. 

  Achieve an EU net greenhouse gas removal of 310 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per 

year for the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector18. 

  Reach good ecological and chemical status in surface waters and good chemical and 

quantitative status in groundwater by 202719. 

  Reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides 

by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 203020. 

  Significant progress has been made in the remediation of contaminated sites21.  

Long-term objectives by 2050 

  Reach no net land take22 23. 

  Soil  pollution  should  be  reduced  to  levels  no  longer  considered  harmful  to  human 
health  and  natural  ecosystems  and  respect  the  boundaries  our  planet  can  cope  with, 
thus creating a toxic-free environment24. 

  Achieve  a  climate-neutral  Europe25  and,  as  the  first  step,  aim  to  achieve  land-based 

climate neutrality in the EU by 203526.  

  Achieve for EU a climate-resilient society, fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of 

climate change by 205027. 

Aside  from  some  existing  EU  legal  provisions  relevant  to  soil  protection28  and  actions 
undertaken under the 2006 Soil Thematic Strategy29, the EU has so far not been able to equip 

14 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, COM(2020)380. 
15 EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, COM/2021/82. 
16 United Nations (2015), Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
17 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, COM(2020)380. 
18 Proposal for a revision of the LULUCF Regulation, COM(2021) 554. 
19 Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC 
20 EU Farm to Fork Strategy, COM(2020) 381. 
21 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, COM(2020)380. 
22 Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, COM/2011/0571.  
23 7th EU Environment Action Programme, Decision No 1386/2013/EU. 
24 Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All, EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’, COM(2021)400. 
25 Climate Law Regulation (EU) 2021/1119. 
26 Proposal for a revision of the LULUCF Regulation, COM(2021) 554. 
27 EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, COM/2021/82. 
28 Requirements related to specific aspects of soil protection within, for example, Sewage Sludge Directive, Industrial Emissions Directive, 
Common Agricultural Policy, Environmental Liability Directive, Waste Framework Directive, LULUCF Regulation. 
29 Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, COM(2006)231.  

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itself  with  an  adequate  legal  framework  granting  soil  the  same  level  of  protection  as  water, 
marine  environment  and  air.  Yet,  the  need  has  become  more  pressing,  and  the  knowledge 
about soils and the recognition of their value has advanced significantly over the past  years. 
The  pressures,  expectations  and  claims  on  soil  have  intensified,  while  the  climate  and 
biodiversity crises are aggravating the situation. We need healthy soils now more than ever. 

What is a healthy soil? 

Soils are healthy  when they  are in  good chemical, biological and physical condition, and 
thus able to continuously provide as many of the following ecosystem services as possible:  

  provide food and biomass production, including in agriculture and forestry; 

  absorb, store and filter water and transform nutrients and substances, thus protecting 

groundwater bodies; 

  provide the basis for life and biodiversity, including habitats, species and genes; 

  act as a carbon reservoir; 

  provide a physical platform and cultural services for humans and their activities; 

  act as a source of raw materials; 

  constitute an archive of geological, geomorphological and archaeological heritage. 

The  upcoming  Commission  proposal  for  a  Nature  Restoration  Law  aims  at  restoring 
ecosystems  to  good  condition  by  2050.  Yet  to  achieve  that  objective  for  soil  ecosystems, 
given the lack of EU soil policy, a number of important policy gaps will remain and would 
need to be filled. This Communication addresses these gaps through several strands. 
The lack of dedicated EU legislation has been singled out by many30 as a major cause for the 
alarming  state  of  our  soils.  Indeed,  soil  degradation  has  impacts  that  go  beyond  national 
borders (see accompanying staff working document), and lack of action in one Member State 
may  lead  to  environmental  degradation  in  another  one.  Equally,  soil  degradation,  and  an 
uneven and fragmented response by Member States to tackle it, has led to an uneven playing 
field  for  economic  operators  who  have  to  go  by  different  rules  on  soil  protection  while 
competing on the same market.  

To  address  transboundary  impacts  of  soil  degradation,  secure  equal  market  conditions, 
promote policy coherence at EU and national level and thus be able to achieve our goals on 
climate change, biodiversity, food security and water protection, the Commission will table a 
dedicated legislative proposal on soil health by 2023 which will enable the objectives of this 
strategy  to  be  met  and  good  soil  health  to  be  achieved  across  the  EU  by  2050.  Such  a 
legislative initiative will fulfil better regulation requirements, be based on a thorough impact 
assessment,  including  a  subsidiarity  check,  and  fully  respect    the  competences  of  Member 
States in this matter. To determine the scope and content of this proportionate and risk-based 
framework, the Commission will engage in a broad and inclusive  consultation with Member 
States, the European Parliament and all relevant stakeholders.  

30 The European Parliament, the European Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions, the EEA in its State and Outlook of the 
Environment Report 2020, citizens and stakeholders answering the public consultation; see SWD(2021)323 for details. 

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While there is a big variety in the EU, soils also present a set of common characteristics. This 
makes  it  possible  to  define  common  ranges  or  thresholds  beyond  which  soils  cannot  be 
considered  healthy  anymore.  Such  indicators  for  soil  health  and  their  range  of  values  that 
should be achieved by 2050 to ensure good soil health will need to be developed and agreed, 
and they should be considered at EU level in the context of the Soil Health Law to ensure a 
level playing field and a high level of environmental and health protection. The Commission 
will mandate the new enlarged Expert Group on Soil Protection to develop them, building on 
the Soil Mission’s work. The membership of the current  Commission  Expert Group will be 
complemented  in  a  balanced  manner  in  order  to  provide  additional  advice31.  The  Mission 
Board had advocated to aim for 75% of the soils of the European Union (EU) to be healthy or 
improving by 2030. 

Knowing the health of a soil is very relevant for farmers, foresters, landowners, but also for 
banks,  public  authorities  and  many  other  stakeholders.  There  is  an  increasing  interest  for  a 
refined soil quality index, e.g. in the financial and industrial sector. Some Member States have 
developed  certificates  of  soil  health  to  be  provided  during  land  transactions  to  adequately 
inform  the  buyer.  In  parallel,  both  the  public  and  private  sectors  have  been  developing  and 
investing  in  outcome-oriented  approaches  fostering  effective  practices  for  soil  health, 
biodiversity, carbon storage capacity, etc.   

3.  SOIL AS A KEY SOLUTION FOR OUR BIG CHALLENGES 

3.1.  Soil for climate change mitigation and adaptation  

Net removals from the LULUCF sector are on a worrying trend. Between 2013 and 
2018,  the  yearly  net  carbon  removals  were  reduced  by  20%32.  Achieving  net-zero 
greenhouse  gas  emissions  by  2050  relies  also  on  carbon  removals  through  the 
restoration and better management of soils to absorb the emissions that will remain 
at the end of an ambitious decarbonisation pathway. Targeted and continued sustainable soil 
management practices can significantly help in achieving climate neutrality by eliminating the 
anthropogenic emissions from organic soils and  by increasing the carbon stocked in mineral 
soils. 

Healthy soils will make the EU more resilient and reduce its vulnerability to climate change. 
Given  the  crucial  role  of  soil  in  the  water  cycle,  it  is  also  an  indispensable  ally  for  climate 
adaptation. A high water retention capacity in soils reduces the effects of floods and decreases 
the negative impact of droughts.  

The revision of the LULUCF Regulation that the Commission is proposing within the Fit for 
55 legislative package33 aims to stop and reverse this trend and simplify the accounting rules.  

In relation to climate change, these two main types of soils play an important role: 

  Organic soils (including peatlands) have a high carbon content of more than 20% in 
dry  weight  and  cover  8%  of  the  EU34.  Peatlands  are  terrestrial  wetlands  in  which 
waterlogged  conditions  prevent  plant  material  from  fully  decomposing.  Peatland 
drainage  across  all  land  categories  in  Europe  alone  emits  around  5%  of  total  EU 

31 Such as expertise from business and professional organisations, academia and scientific organisations, and the civil society. 
32 Proposal for amending Regulations (EU) 2018/841 and (EU) 2018/1999, COM/2021/554 
33 Delivering the European Green Deal: Fit for 55 package 
34 Calculated from data derived from the national submissions to the UNFCCC. 

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greenhouse  gas  emissions.  Emissions  from  cultivated  organic  soils  have  still  not 
decreased  significantly  due  to  the  continuation  of  harmful  cropping  practices.  Yet 
restoring  drained  organic  soils  alone  could  significantly  reduce  CO2  emissions  from 
land,  which  comes  with  numerous  co-benefits,  for  nature,  biodiversity  and  water 
protection35. 

  Mineral  soils  feature  a  carbon  content  below  20%,  although  more  generally  it  is 
below  5%.  Every  year  mineral  soils  under  cropland  are  losing  around  7.4  million 
tonnes  of  carbon36,  caused  i.a.  by  unsustainable  farming  practices.  Yet,  that  carbon 
pool  is  the  ‘bank  account’  of  farmers  and  foresters  in  terms  of  natural  capital.  It  is 
essential  not  to  deplete  it,  as  the  carbon  content  is  the  basis  for  soil’s  biodiversity, 
health  and  fertility.  Furthermore,  carbon  sequestration  in  mineral  soils,  while 
depending on soil type and climatic conditions, is a cost-effective emission mitigation 
method with significant potential to sequester between 11 to 38 MtCO2eq annually in 
Europe37  if  a  range  of  management  practices  which  have  already  been  identified  are 
applied  on a  larger scale  in  arable land. Many of these practices are cost-effective38. 
Foresters  as  well  have  significant  opportunities  for  measures  which  simultaneously 
improve  forest  productivity,  carbon  sink  function  and  healthy  soil  properties..  The 
banking  and  financial  sector  is  increasingly  interested  in  investing  in  those  farmers 
who apply sustainable practices and increase soil carbon, as well as creating market-
based  incentives  for  carbon  storing.  There  is  evidence  that  carbon  farming  can 
contribute  significantly  to  the  EU’s  efforts  to  tackle  climate  change  but  also  brings 
other co-benefits such as increased biodiversity and the preservation of ecosystems39. 

Actions 

For soils to help meet the climate neutrality objective and contribute to climate adaptation, 
the Commission will, in line with the Fit for 55 package: 

For organic soils: 

  Based  on  the  results  of  the  impact  assessment,  consider  proposing  legally  binding 
objectives  in  the  context  of  the  Nature  Restoration  Law,  to  limit    drainage  of 
wetlands  and  organic  soils  and  to  restore  managed  and  drained  peatlands,  in 
order  to  maintain  and  increase  soil  carbon  stocks,  minimise  flooding  and  drought 
risks,  and  enhance  biodiversity,  taking  into  account  the  implications  of  these 
objectives  for  future  carbon  farming  initiatives  and  agricultural  and  forestry 
production systems. Furthermore, the EU is committed to the protection of wetlands 

35 European Commission (2021), Technical guidance handbook: Setting up and implementing result-based carbon farming mechanisms in the 
EU. Data are from 2016, including UK.  
36 European Commission (2018), In-depth analysis in support of this in COM(2018) 773: A Clean Planet for all - European strategic long-
term vision a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy 
37 Lugato et al. (2014), Potential carbon sequestration of European arable soils estimated by modelling a comprehensive set of management 
practices. 
38 European Commission (2021), Technical guidance handbook: Setting up and implementing result-based carbon farming mechanisms in the 
EU  
39 European Commission (2021), Technical guidance handbook: Setting up and implementing result-based carbon farming mechanisms in the 
EU 

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and peatlands in line with the provisions of the CAP strategic plan regulation. 

  Contribute to the assessment of the state of peatlands in the context of the Global 

Peatlands Initiative hosted by FAO and UNEP40.  

For mineral soils: 

  The  Commission  will  consider  measures,  possibly  in  the  context  of  the  Nature 
Restoration Law, to enhance biodiversity in agricultural land that would contribute  
to conserving and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC), 

  Join  the  international  initiative  ‘4  per  1000’  to  increase  the  soil  carbon  in 

agricultural land41. 

  Develop  a  long-term  vision  for  sustainable  carbon  cycles  (including  capture, 
storage,  and  use  of  CO2)  in  a  climate-neutral  EU  economy.  As  part  of  this,  the 
Commission will deliver a communication on restoring sustainable carbon cycles, in 
2021 and present the EU carbon farming initiative and a legislative proposal on 
carbon  removal  certification  in  2022  to  promote  a  new  green  business  model 
rewarding  land  managers,  such  as  farmers  and  foresters,  for  climate–friendly 
practices42.  

3.2.  Soil and the circular economy 

Soil  is  a  major  partner  in  a  resource-efficient  and  circular  economy,  since  it  is 
arguably  the  planet’s  biggest  recycling  machine:  it  recycles  water,  carbon  and 
nutrients, and can break down and filter pollutants. In addition, soil deposits are 
used as raw material by many economic sectors, e.g. sand, gravel or clay for the 
construction industry. Yet, soil formation is so slow that prudent use is necessary. Prioritising 
the  circular  use  of  land  over  greenfield  development  will  limit  the  acute  pressure  from  soil 
sealing and land take.  

3.2.1.  A safe, sustainable and circular use of excavated soil  

Most excavated soils are clean, fertile and healthy and should be reused in the same or another 
appropriate  location.  If  it  is  not  possible  to  reuse  excavated  soils,  e.g.  due  to  unacceptable 
levels  of  pollution,  such  soils  should  be  prioritised  for  recycling  or  some  other  form  of 
recovery  rather  than  landfilling,  in  line  with  the  waste  hierarchy.  A  sustainable  use  of  raw 
material  is  necessary43.  In  2018,  more  than  530  million  tonnes  of  excavated  soils  were 
generated and reported as waste44, with two thirds of such waste being recovered in operations 
bringing  that  soil  back  into  the  economy45.  To  separate  contaminated  soil  from  clean  soil, 
these streams have to be monitored more closely throughout the value chain, with traceability 
and quality control from the excavation site up to the receiving end.  

40 www.globalpeatlands.org  
41 www.4p1000.org  
42 European Commission carbon farming initiative, ‘Climate change – restoring sustainable carbon cycles’  
43 EU principles for sustainable raw materials 
44 In accordance with Article 2, 1(c) of Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, uncontaminated soil and other naturally occurring material 
excavated in the course of construction activities where it is certain that the material will be used for the purposes of construction in its 
natural state on the site from which it was excavated, is excluded from the scope of this Directive. Reused excavated soil is also not reported 
as waste. 
45 European Commission (2020), Study to support the preparation of Commission guidelines on the definition of backfilling. 

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Actions 

The Commission will:  

 

Investigate the streams of excavated soils generated, treated and reused in the EU, 
and benchmark the market situation in Member States by 2023. This should give a 
complete picture of the situation in the EU.  

  As part of the development of the Soil Health Law, assess the need and potential for 
legally  binding  provisions  for  a  ‘passport  for  excavated  soil’,  and  provide 
guidance, based on Member States’ experiences, to put in place such a system. The 
passport should reflect the quantity and quality of the excavated soil to ensure that it 
is transported, treated or reused safely elsewhere.  

3.2.2.  Limiting land take and soil sealing with a circular use of land 

Soils provide the foundation for buildings and infrastructure. However, when we seal soil to 
build  on  top,  we  are  losing  irreversibly  all  its  key  ecosystem  services,  exposing  cities  to 
higher  flood  peaks46  and  more  intense  heat  island  effects47.  Land  and  soil  degradation  are 
intertwined because ‘land’ indicates the surface, while ‘soil’ is the natural resource below it. 
Land and soils are fragile and limited resources subject to an ever growing hunger for space: 
urban  sprawl  and  soil  sealing  consume  nature  and  transform  valuable  ecosystems  into 
concrete deserts. This often affects the most fertile soils and reduces the potential for farmers 
and foresters to make a decent living48 49 50

.

Having  suffered  from  increased  vulnerability  to  extreme  weather  events  and  other 
externalities, some Member States have set targets to reduce land take51, however with uneven 
results.  Land  recycling,  namely  constructing  in  or  rehabilitating  already  previously  built-up 
areas , accounted for only 13.5% of urban developments in the EU (between 2006 and 2012), 
so there is room for improvement52. In fact, some Member States have achieved rates higher 
than  50%,  and  up  to  80%,  showing  that  sustained  land  recycling  is  possible.  This  spares 
natural  areas  for  the  benefit  of  biodiversity,  forests  and  green  spaces,  land  for  food  and 
biomass production, water and rainfall regulation. Hence, there is a need to apply a hierarchy 
in land planning.  

46 Pistocchi A. et al (2015), Soil sealing and flood risks in the plains of Emilia-Romagna, Italy.  
47 European Commission (2012), In depth report: soil sealing. 
48 The loss of agricultural land from 1990 to 2006 through sealing in EU countries had the productive capacity equivalent to 6 million tonnes 
per year of wheat (Gardi et al. (2014)). 
49 European Academies Science Advisory Council (2018), Opportunities for soil sustainability in Europe. 
50 The impact of overall EU consumption is estimated at over 9 million hectares deforested between 1990 and 2008 to meet the EU’s imports 
of crops and livestock. Source: Consumption Impact Study - Forests - Environment 
51 Germany aims to seal less than 30 hectares per day until 2030; Austria had set 2.5 ha per day until 2010; two Belgian regions (Flanders and 
Wallonia respectively) set targets for reducing land take to zero by 2040/2050 respectively.  
52 Land recycling and densification — EEA 

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Figure 2: Land take hierarchy 

Actions 

The EU should achieve no net land take by 2050, which will contribute to the net removals 
target of 2030. To do so, notably 

Member States should: 

  Set by 2023 their own ambitious national, regional and local targets to reduce net 
land take by 2030 in order to make a measurable contribution to the EU target of 
2050, and report on progress.  

 

Integrate  the  ‘land  take  hierarchy’  into  their  Urban  Greening  Plans53,  and  give 
priority to reusing and recycling land and to quality urban soils at national, regional 
and  local  level,  through  appropriate  regulatory  initiatives  and  by  phasing  out 
financial incentives that would go against this hierarchy, such as local fiscal benefits 
for converting agricultural or natural land into built environment. 

The Commission will also: 

  Provide a definition of net land take in the Soil Health Law.  

  As part of the impact  assessment  for the Soil Health  Law,  consider provisions for 

Member States to report on progress in achieving their land take targets 

  As  part  of  the  impact  assessment  of  the  Soil  Health  Law,  consider  options  for 
monitoring and reporting on progress towards the no net land take targets and the 
implementation  of  the  land  take  hierarchy  on  the  basis  of  the  data  reported  by 
Member States.  

  Provide guidance to public authorities and private companies on how to reduce soil 

53 See EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, key commitment 11 of the Nature restoration plan: “Cities with at least 20,000 inhabitants have an 
ambitious Urban Greening Plan.” by 2030. 

9 

 
 
                                                           
sealing, including best practices for locally-driven initiatives for desealing artificial 
surfaces  to  let  soil  breathe,  with  a  revision  of  the  EU  Soil  Sealing  Guidelines  by 
202454. Foster an exchange of best practices, building on experiences from Member 
States or regions that have spatial planning systems which successfully address the 
challenge of land take with a view to developing a common methodology55. 

3.2.3.  Closing the nutrient and carbon circle 

Leaves,  biomass  and  roots  are  broken  down  by  soil  organisms  to  simpler  compounds  that 
provide  soil  fertility  and  are  suitable  to  be  taken  up  again  by  plants.56  Recycling  organic 
matter  such  as  compost,  digestate,  sewage  sludge,  processed  manure  and  other  agricultural 
residues  has  many  advantages:  the  material  after  appropriate  treatment  serves  as  organic 
fertiliser, helps to replenish depleted soil carbon pools, and improves water retention capacity 
and  soil  structure,  and  thus  enables  closing  of  the  nutrient  and  carbon  cycle.  However,  this 
should always be carried out in a safe and sustainable way to prevent soil pollution57. For that 
reason, the Commission will by 2022 revise the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and 
the  list  of  surface  water  and  groundwater  pollutants,  evaluate  the  Sewage  Sludge  Directive 
and adopt an  Integrated Nutrient Management Action  for a safer use of nutrients on soil.  In 
the impact assessment for the Soil Health Law, the Commission will assess measures that can 
contribute  to  achieving  the  objective  of  the  reduction  of  nutrient  losses  by  at  least  50% 
(resulting in the reduction of use of fertilisers by at least 20%), including the option of making 
this target legally binding. Building on the obligation to collect organic waste separately, the 
Commission will seek to finance a new LIFE project that addresses as an ad hoc priority the 
use  of  high  quality  compost  from  biowaste  on  soil.  The  Commission  will  also  continue 
funding  research  to  address  the  environmentally  sound  recovery  of  organic  fertilisers  from 
bio-waste.58 

3.3.  Soil biodiversity for human, animal and plant health 

Beneath our fields and our feet, an eclectic community of soil organisms toil day 
and  night  in  a  remarkable,  coordinated  effort  that  sustains  life  on  Earth.  One 
handful  of  healthy  soil  can  contain  up  to  a  billion  bacteria,  more  than  one 
kilometre of fungi essential to plant and animal life59. Yet we only know a little 
percentage  of  them.  Moreover,  soil  hosts  the  first  stages  of  life  of  many  insects  and 
pollinators. 

Soil biodiversity greatly contributes to human health. Since the discovery of penicillin from a 
soil  fungus,  antibiotics  produced  by  soil  microbes  have  saved  millions  of  lives60.  Recently, 
certain  soil  bacteria  have  been  instrumental  in  a  breakthrough  in  the  development  of  much 
needed new antibiotics61. Several cholesterol-lowering drugs were developed from soil fungi. 
It has been shown that children often playing in healthy forest soils have a stronger immune 
system. The ‘One Health’ principle62 clearly recognises that the health of the planet is closely 

54 Guidelines on best practice to limit, mitigate or compensate soil sealing, Commission Staff Working Document (2012) 101. 
55 Czechia has divided agricultural land into five protection classes to protect the most valuable and fertile soils from land take.   
56 EEA (2019), Land and soil in Europe. 
57 Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All, EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’, COM(2021)400. 
58 For example: Horizon 2020 (Closing nutrients cycle) and Horizon Europe (Environmental impacts and trade-offs of alternative fertilising 
products at global/local scale) 
59 Fortuna, A. (2012), The Soil Biota. Nature Education Knowledge.  
60 Brevik et al. (2020), Soil and human health: current status and future needs 
61 Yu Imai et al. (2019), A new antibiotic selectively kills Gram-negative pathogens 
62 One Health (who.int) 

10 

 
                                                           
linked with human and animal health. If one group is affected, this influences the health of the 
rest:  for  instance,  the  more  balanced  nutrients  and  trace  elements  are  in  soil  the  more 
nutritious food is. Many soil microorganisms are powerful allies against pollution, since they 
are capable of breaking complex contaminants, performing bioremediation for free. Equally, 
the healthier and cleaner the soil, the cleaner our water resources and the air we breathe63. The 
soil fungal network has been shown to be key in maintaining healthy forests by enabling trees 
to share nutrients, water or defence signals64.  

Yet, soil biodiversity, just as the above-ground organisms, is threatened by land-use change, 
overexploitation,  pollution,  climate  change  and  invasive  alien  species  such  as  the  New 
Zealand flatworm65, a predator that can lead to the decline of earthworms and have dramatic 
effects on soil productivity. There is a need to increase the knowledge on the impact of land 
use change, overexploitation and other stressors on soil biodiversity, also by using synergies 
between the FSDN (Farm Sustainability Data Network) and LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage 
Area frame Survey) Soil. Achieving many of the targets of the EU biodiversity strategy and 
farm  to  fork  strategy  will  also  benefit  soil  biodiversity.  To  protect  and  preserve  soil 
organisms,  we  need  to  monitor  and  know  more  about  them  and  cooperate  at  international 
level. 

Actions 

The Commission will: 

  Show  its  global  leading  role  in  building  knowledge  on  soil  biodiversity  by 
publishing  by  2022  the  first  assessment  of  EU  soil  biodiversity  and  antimicrobial 
resistance genes in agricultural soils under different management regimes  (through 
the LUCAS Soil). 

  Assess the risk of further alien flatworm species for their potential inclusion in the 
list  of  ‘invasive  alien  species  of  Union  concern’,  in  line  with  the  Invasive  Alien 
Species Regulation66. 

  Strive for better coherence and stronger synergies between the Rio Conventions and 
strive for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that recognises the importance 
of soil biodiversity, strengthens the use of sustainable soil management practices to 
safeguard  ecosystem  services  (namely  by  promoting  agro-ecology  and  other 
biodiversity-friendly  practices)  and  integrates  soil  preservation  and  restoration  in 
different targets and indicators.  

  Actively  contribute  to  the  adoption  by  the  15th  Conference  of  the  Parties  to  the 
Convention  on  Biological  Diversity67  of  the  plan  of  action  2020-2030  for  the 
the  Conservation  and  Sustainable  Use  of  Soil 
International  Initiative  for 

63 Wall and Six (2015), Give soils their due 
64 Pickles et al. (2017), Mycorrhizal Networks and Forest Resilience to Drought. Mycorrhizal Mediation of Soil, pp. 319-339 
65 Joint Research Centre (2021), Baseline distribution of invasive alien species added to the Union list in 2019 
66 EU Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction of invasive alien species. 
67 https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-15    

11 

 
                                                           
Biodiversity and the updated plan of action and to its subsequent implementation.  

  Step up efforts in mapping, assessing, protecting and restoring soil biodiversity and 
support the establishment of the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory as proposed 
by the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO) Global Soil Partnership68. 

3.4.  Soil for healthy water resources  

Soils,  sediments  and  water  are  intimately  connected.  Soils  filter,  absorb  and 
buffer water, but can also get eroded and polluted. When soil is sealed, water is 
transported  differently  across  surfaces.  Methods  that  allow  floodwaters  to 
infiltrate  soils  in  order  to  reduce  disasters  and  pollution  to  water  bodies  are 
important for water management. The restoration of the sponge-like function of 
soils can boost the supply of clean, fresh water and reduce the risk of flooding and drought. 
Also, some highly fertile and carbon-rich soils are eroded and deposited downstream in river 
basins,  dams  and  the  sea,  where  often  this  sediment  is  dredged  for  nautical  reasons.  These 
sediments could be reused again, provided they are clean.  

Hence, coordinating water and soil policies is essential to achieving healthy soils and aquatic 
ecosystems through better soil and water management, including across borders, and reducing 
the impact of floods on people and the economy. There is a comprehensive body of EU water 
law  in  place,  and  the  new  EU  strategy  on  adaptation  to  climate  change  highlights  the 
importance  of  healthy  soils  in  minimising  climate  change  related  risks,  such  as  floods  and 
droughts. The Commission will consider addressing the adequate integration and coordination 
of soil and water management, including in the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law.  It 
will also facilitate exchange of practices among the Member States on the nexus between soil, 
water  and  sediment  and  publish  a  guidance  on  the  sustainable  management  of  sediment. 
Member States should better integrate soil and land use management in their river basin and 
flood  risk  management  plans  where  possible  by  deploying  nature-based  solutions  such  as 
protective natural features, landscape features, river restoration, floodplains, etc. 

4.  PREVENTING SOIL AND LAND DEGRADATION AND RESTORING HEALTHY SOILS 

4.1. Making sustainable soil management the new normal 

Soils are generally healthy in unmanaged and natural ecosystems, and can be 
maintained  healthy  also  in  managed  ecosystems  through  the  application  of 
sustainable soil management (SSM). This is a set of practices that is able to 
maintain  the  soil  in,  or  restore  it  to,  a  healthy  condition  yielding  multiple 
benefits, including for water and air. These practices increase soil biodiversity, 

fertility and resilience which are needed for the vitality of rural areas.  

There is no magic recipe for SSM that applies to all soil types and climatic conditions or to all 
types of land use.  An increasing amount of knowledge, including empirical  knowledge, can 
be  applied  in  agriculture69  70  71  and  forestry72.  On  the  principles  to  be  followed,  there  are 
international reference documents such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil 

68 FAO (2020), State of knowledge of soil biodiversity – Status, challenges and potentialities. 
69 European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture  
70 IUCN (2020), Common ground: restoring land health for sustainable agriculture  
71 Good Agricultural and Environmental Practices (GAEC) under CAP; https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-
policies/common-agricultural-policy/income-support/cross-compliance_en#gaec  
72 Pro Silva Principles, https://www.prosilva.org/close-to-nature-forestry/pro-silva-principles/   

12 

 
                                                           
Management73.  However,  there  is  no  agreed  common  definition  at  EU  level  of  SSM  that  is 
concrete and complete to be enforceable.  

These practices are also part of broader agro-ecological principles which are at the heart of the 
farm  to  fork  and  biodiversity  strategies  and  their  targets  to  bring  back  at  least  10%  of 
agricultural  area  under  high-diversity  landscape  features,  to  reduce  nutrient  losses  and  risk 
and use of chemical pesticides, to increase the proportion of agricultural land under organic 
farming and to increase soil organic matter. There is evidence that soil carbon levels are likely 
to  improve  if  organic  farming  is  applied  to  agricultural  production  systems74.  Equally, 
agroforestry provides many benefits for soil health and climate adaptation. Other sustainable 
practices  include  cover  cropping,  crop  rotation,  the  incorporation  of  crop  residues,  contour 
farming  in  slopes,  avoid  heavy  machinery,  the  safe  and  compost,  preventing  conversion  to 
arable  land,  conversion  to  grassland,  continuous  soil  cover,  reduced  tillage  and  chemical 
inputs.   

Making  sustainable  soil  management  the  new  normal  requires  coordination  and  working 
together  at  local,  regional,  national,  EU  and  global  level  to  promote  and  implement  such 
practices.  Playing  its  role,  the  Commission  will  integrate  the  sustainable  use  of  soils  in  the 
relevant EU policies. 

The  role  of  advisory  services  both  in  agriculture  and  forestry  is  absolutely  essential  in 
assisting land users. For agricultural soils, local action must be closely nurtured and fostered 
with sufficient support from the farm advisory services and the Agricultural Knowledge and 
Innovation Systems (AKIS) of the CAP strategic plans.   
The  new  CAP75  has  introduced  an  enhanced  conditionality  for  environmental  protection. 
Conditionality sets the baseline for more ambitious and sustainable agricultural commitments 
through  environment-  and  climate-friendly  farming  practices  under  eco-schemes  and  rural 
development interventions.  

Maintaining  healthy  soils  is  particularly  important,  including  in  forests,  as  there  is  a  strong 
interdependence  between  trees  and  the  soil  on  which  they  grow,  with  mutual  benefits  and 
losses. In line with the new Forest Strategy76, forest management needs to avoid unsustainable 
practices  that  degrade  the  soil,  for  example  through  compaction,  erosion  or  loss  of  soil 
organic carbon. 

To make it happen on the ground, and inspired by the French national soil sampling scheme 
BDAT 77, a ‘TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE’ initiative is proposed below. Knowing more 
about  soil  characteristics  (pH,  bulk  density,  soil  organic  matter,  nutrient  balance,  etc.)  will 
help land users to adopt the best management practices. For that reason, building on years of 
experience surveying soils in the LUCAS survey, the Commission will assist Member States 
in setting up, with their own funds, a system to test soil for free for those land users that so 
wish, and who will receive the results of the tests. This will complement existing obligations 
in  Member  States  for  soil  sampling.  In  order  to  maximise  consistency  in  approaches  to 
sampling techniques, and to ensure appropriate advice, the involvement of AKIS advisors is 
crucial.  An  estimate  of  the  costs  involved  in  such  an  initiative  are  included  in  the  staff 
working document accompanying this strategy.  

73 FAO (2017), Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management. 
74 Gattinger A. et al (2012), Enhanced top soil carbon stocks under organic farming. 
75 https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/cap-glance_en - thenewcap  
76 New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, COM(2021)572 final. 
77 https://www.gissol.fr/le-gis/programmes/base-de-donnees-danalyses-des-terres-bdat-62 

13 

 
                                                           
Along  the  food  value  chain,  many  businesses  are  increasingly  committing  to  agro-food  and 
forestry  production  practices  that  respect  and  increase  the  health  of  soils78.  This  helps  raise 
consumer  awareness  and  addresses  expectations  by  citizens  and  stakeholders  of  concrete 
results on soil health. 

Actions 

To promote sustainable soil management, the Commission will: 

  As part of the Soil Health law,  and  in  the context  of an impact  assessment,  assess 
requirements  for  the  sustainable  use  of  soil  so  that  its  capacity  to  deliver 
ecosystem  services  is  not  hampered,  including  the  option  of  setting  legal 
requirements.  

  Prepare, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, a set of ‘sustainable 
soil  management’  practices,  including  regenerative  farming  in  line  with  agro-
ecological  principles, adapted to  the wide variability of soil ecosystems  and types, 
and identify unsustainable soil management practices.  

  Provide  assistance  to  Member  States  to  put  in  place  through  national  funds  the 

‘TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE’.  

  Create  with  the  Member  States  a  network  of  excellence  of  practitioners,  and  an 
inclusive  network  of  SSM  ambassadors,  including  on  regenerative  and  organic 
agriculture,  connecting  stakeholders  beyond  academia  and  agricultural  actors.  For 
this they will build on the work of Living Labs and Lighthouses of the Mission ’A 
Soil Deal for Europe’ (see Section 5.3). 

 

In  the  context  of  the  CAP  and  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Member  States, 
continue  the  dissemination  of  successful  sustainable  soil  and  nutrient  management 
solutions,  including  through  the  national  rural  networks  of  the  rural  development 
programme,  farm  advisory  services  and  AKIS,  and  the  European  Innovation 
Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI).  

  Promote  SSM  through  voluntary  commitments  between  actors  in  the  food  system 
under the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Businesses and Marketing 
practices. 

  Value  outstanding  achievements  and  innovative  initiatives  on  sustainable  soil 
management  by  strengthening  cooperation  with  the  farming  community  such  as 
though the European Land Owners Soil Award79.  

  Continue  to  support  the  Global  Soil  Partnership  in  promoting  sustainable  soil 

management worldwide. 

  Propose by 2023 a legislative framework for an EU sustainable food system, as 

indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy.  

78 See the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, https://ec.europa.eu/food/horizontal-topics/farm-
fork-strategy/sustainable-food-processing/code-conduct_en  
79 Soil and Land Award (europeanlandowners.org) 

14 

 
                                                           
Member States should: 

  Duly  include  in  their  programmes  under  EU  cohesion  policy  the  conservation, 
restoration  and  sustainable  use  of  soil,  making  full  use  of  the  EU  guidance  on 
integrating ecosystems and their services into decision-making80. 

  Ensure the CAP’s strong contribution to maintaining and enhancing soil health, in 
line  with  the  CAP  Strategic  Plans  analysis  and  needs  assessment.  This  is  to  be 
achieved,  among  others,  by  adopting  ambitious  CAP  strategic  plans  containing 
sufficient interventions under the green architecture81, following the Commission’s 
CAP  recommendations.  The  Commission  will  continue  providing  necessary 
guidance  and  assess  the  contribution  and  consistency  of  these  plans  towards  the 
Green Deal targets. 

  Set up at the appropriate level the ‘TEST YOUR SOIL FOR FREE’ initiative. 

4.2.  Preventing desertification  

The  United  Nations  Convention  to  Combat  Desertification  (UNCCD)  has 
recognised the link between desertification, land degradation and drought, and 
the need to take urgent action by reversing land degradation. It set the target of 
land-degradation-neutrality (LDN), later taken up as one of the UN Sustainable 
Development  Goals  in  201582.  All  Parties  of  the  Convention  have  been 
encouraged  to  publicly  report  on  land  degradation  every  4  years,  and  several  EU  Member 
States have submitted the 2018 report83.  

Europe will be affected by a rise in drought conditions (as well as heavy precipitation events), 
thus  enhancing  the  risk  of  future  desertification  processes  and  already  affecting  agricultural 
production in Europe84.  

Already  in  2008,  extensive  processes  resulting  in  desertification  were  observed  both  in 
Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European countries, and a study from 2017 confirmed 
this trend. Whilst thirteen Member States have declared themselves as ‘affected party’ under 
the UNCCD85, the EU has not yet done so. While the risk of desertification in the EU relates 
to  specific  regions,  the  environmental,  social  and  economic  impact  concerns  the  whole  EU. 
Not  only  does  the  loss  of  soil  fertility  put  food  security  at  risk,  desertification  also  reduces 
both  above-ground  and  below-ground  biodiversity,  further  contributes  to  climate  change 
through loss of soil carbon and feedback effects on the atmosphere, brings poverty and health 
problems and leads to migration within and from outside the EU.  
The  European  Court  of  Auditors86  concluded  that  the  steps  taken  by  the  Commission  and 
Member States to combat desertification lack coherence and that there is no shared vision in 
the EU on how land degradation neutrality will be achieved by 2030.  

80 SWD(2019)305 on EU guidance on integrating ecosystems and their services into decision making. 
81 Eco-schemes and rural development as well as ambitious ‘good agricultural and environmental conditions’. 
82 See, for example, https://indicators.report/targets/15-3/  
83 See UNCCD reporting platform: https://prais.unccd.int/unccd/reports 
84 EEA (2019), Climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector in Europe 
85 Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Source: European 
Court of Auditors (2018) Background Paper. Desertification in the EU 
86 ECA Special Report 33/2018: Combating desertification in the EU: a growing threat in need of more action 

15 

 
                                                           
Despite some progress, much more must be done to transition the agricultural sector to adapt 
to the weather extremes, especially at farm level. A wide number of soil protection measures 
are  available  that  help  retain  water  and  reduce  water  needs,  avoid  salinisation  and  increase 
resilience  to  droughts87.  Therefore,  applying  specific  sustainable  soil  management  practices 
that retain moisture, planting bushes and trees that generate shade, and cultivating plants and 
crop  species  and  variants  adapted  to  dry  climatic  conditions  can  reverse  the  trend  towards 
desertification  and  restore  soils  already  affected  by  it.  Member  States  have  already  been 
encouraged  to  develop  drought  management  plans  and  monitor  drought  events  and  their 
severity with specific indicators88. 

Actions 

The Commission will: 

  Establish a methodology and relevant indicators, starting with the UNCCD’s three 
indicators, to assess the extent of desertification and land degradation in the EU. 

  Propose  to  Member  States  to  declare  the  EU  affected  by  desertification  under 
UNCCD  and  continue  to  encourage  Member  States  to  participate  in  the  United 
Nation’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme. 

  Supported  by  the  European  Environment  Agency  (EEA)  and  the  Joint  Research 
Centre  (JRC),  publish  information  every  five  years  about  the  state  of  land 
degradation and desertification in the EU. 

  Continue  support  to  key  initiatives  such  as  the  Great  Green  Wall  initiative89, 

Regreening Africa90, and aid on land/soil issues in development cooperation. 

Member States should: 

  Adopt,  in  line  with  the  actions  envisaged  in  the  EU  climate  adaptation  strategy91, 
appropriate  long-term  measures  to  prevent  and  mitigate  degradation,  notably  by 
reducing water use and adapting crops to the local water availability,  coupled with 
wider  use  of  drought  management  plans  and  application  of  sustainable  soil 
management. 

4.3.  Preventing soil pollution  

Preventing  diffuse  and  point-source  soil  pollution  remains  the  most  effective  and  cheapest 
way to ensure clean and healthy soils in the long term. As a priority, contamination should be 
prevented  at  the  source92.  This  can  be  done,  for  example,  by  having  clean  industry, 
sustainable  product  design,  improved  recycling,  waste  management  and  nutrient  recovery, 
more  efficient  fertiliser  application  or  reduced  pesticide  use  and  risk93,  as  well  as 
implementing the Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and reducing the 

87 EEA (2019), Climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector in Europe,  
88 See recommendations from the assessment of the 2nd River Basin Management Plans. 
89 https://www.greatgreenwall.org/  
90 https://regreeningafrica.org/  
91 Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, COM(2021)82. 
92 Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All, EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’, COM(2021)400. 
93 European Environment Agency (2021), Land and soil pollution — widespread, harmful and growing 

16 

 
                                                           
use  of  antimicrobials.  This  should  be  complemented  by  reduced  emissions  and  a  safer 
production and use of chemicals.  

The EU has legislation to  prevent  the release of  emissions of hazardous  substances into the 
environment,  including  soil.  To  prevent  soil  contamination,  it  is  important  that  the  risks  of 
chemicals  for soil quality  and biodiversity  are properly  considered in  risk assessments. Yet, 
the necessary data on the hazard  and environmental fate  of and  exposure  to  such  chemicals 
and the resulting risk they pose for soil quality and organisms are often lacking. 

Actions 

Building on the Farm to Fork, Biodiversity and Chemicals Strategies and the Zero Pollution 
Action Plan, the Commission will: 

  Revise  the  Directive  on  the  Sustainable  Use  of  Pesticides94  and  evaluate  the  Sewage 

Sludge Directive by 2022. 

 

Improve and harmonise the consideration of soil quality and soil biodiversity in EU risk 
assessments for chemicals, food and feed additives, pesticides, fertilisers, etc. It will do 
this  under  the  ‘one  substance  one  assessment’  initiative  and  in  collaboration  with  the 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the  
EEA, JRC and the Member States. 

  Restrict 

intentionally  used  micro-plastics  under 

the  Registration,  Evaluation, 
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation and develop measures 
on  the  unintentional  release  of  microplastics  by  2022.  Following  the  initiation  of  the 
restriction  process  by  some  Member  States,  the  Commission  will  prepare  a  restriction 
under  REACH  on  all  non-essential  uses  of  the  per-  and  polyfluoroalkyl  substances 
(PFAS), preventing their emission to the environment including soil, and also develop a 
policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics by 2022. 

  By  July  2024,  adopt  biodegradability  criteria  for  certain  polymers,  such  as  coating 
agents and agricultural  mulch films under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation. The 
contaminant limits for EU fertilising products will be reviewed by July 2026 as part of 
the general review of that regulation.  

4.4. Restoring degraded soils and remediating contaminated sites 

A degraded soil has lost partially or completely its capacity to provide its multiple 
functions  and  services.  In  some  cases,  resorting  to  sustainable  soil  management 
allows  soil  to  re-establish  a  healthy  condition,  leading  to  full  recovery  after  some 
years  (e.g.  in  case  of  loss  of  carbon  and  biodiversity  or  compaction  and  erosion  of  the  top 
fertile layer). In other cases, active restoration measures are needed for sometimes only partial 
recovery  (e.g.  for  sealed,  desertified,  salinised  or  acidified  soils).  In  the  EU  Biodiversity 
Strategy  for  2030,  the  Commission  announced  a  proposal  for  legally  binding  EU  nature 
restoration targets in 2021 to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most 
potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. 
Sometimes, alas, degradation is irreversible. 

94 Directive 2009/128/EC. 

17 

 
                                                           
Contaminated sites require remediation with often complex and costly techniques, although in 
certain  cases  low-cost,  bioremediation  techniques  have  been  shown  to  be  effective. 
Nonetheless,  in  some  cases  soils  have  been  degraded  to  such  an  extent  that  they  cannot  be 
fully restored to a healthy condition at a reasonable cost. In such cases, appropriate measures 
are  needed  to  confine  or  manage  the  risk  of  the  contaminated  site  in  order  to  prevent  any 
further harm to the environment and human health.  

By 2050, soil pollution should be reduced to levels which are no longer expected to pose risks 
and  which  respect  the  boundaries  our  planet  can  cope  with,  thus  creating  a  toxic-free 
environment95. Recently, in the case of mercury-contaminated soil96, one Member State with a 
well-maintained  register  (Belgium)  identified  more  than  1 600  contaminated  sites  while 
several  other Member States  reported none.  Some Member States have very comprehensive 
legislation in place at national or regional level, while others do not. This latter group has no 
specific  soil  contamination  and  remediation  laws,  applies  more  of  an  ad  hoc  approach  and 
does  not  have  a  register  for  (potentially)  contaminated  sites.  Reporting  on  progress  in 
managing  soil  contamination  is  currently  voluntary,  irregular  and  based  on  a  changing 
methodology,  different  national  definitions,  screening  values  and  risk  assessment 
methodologies.  In  light  of  this  lack  of  level  playing  field,  the  Commission  will  therefore 
explore the need for  legal  provisions to  make such reporting mandatory  and uniform  across 
the EU in the context of the Soil Health Law.  

When  efforts  to  prevent  and  control  the  source  of  pollution  have  failed  and  contaminants 
reach  the  soil  and  pose  risks  for  the  environment  and  human  health,  the  soil  must  be 
remediated and the polluter should pay for it. The Environmental Liability Directive97 obliges 
certain operators to remediate contaminated land that poses risks for human health if pollution 
occurred  as  the  consequence  of  activities  carried  out  after  30  April  2007  or,  if  carried  out 
before, not yet finished at that date98. The Industrial Emissions Directive99 requests operators 
of certain installations to establish the state of soil and groundwater contamination at the start 
of  operations,  apply  for  a  permit  that  includes  conditions  to  prevent  soil  pollution  through 
application  of  the  best  available  techniques  and  to  take  necessary  action  upon  definitive 
cessation to return the site to its initial status. The Commission is also working on a revision 
of the Environmental Crime Directive, which will propose an ambitious instrument to tackle 
environmental crime and introduce effective tools for law enforcement authorities across the 
Union to enforce its environmental policy (including soil pollution offences), with the support 
of Eurojust in cross-border cases. 
However, for historical or orphan100 contaminated sites, a common approach is lacking in the 
EU,  which  is  a  very  important  legal  gap.  It  is  crucial  that  all  Member  States  identify  and 
maintain a register for contaminated sites, assess the risks and finally remediate these sites in 
case of unacceptable risks. This is required to honour the several commitments made at global 
level on the management of contaminated sites101. 

95 Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All, EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’, COM(2021)400. 
96 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/mercury/regulation_en.htm  
97 Directive 2004/35/CE on environmental liability with regards to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage 
98 Judgment in Joined Cases C-379/08 and C-380/08, ERG aos. 
99 Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions 
100 Historical contamination was caused before the entry into force of national or EU legislation. On orphan sites, the polluter cannot be 
identified, no longer exists or cannot bear the remediation cost, e.g. due to bankruptcy. 
101 UNEA-3 resolutions 3/4 on environment and health and 3/6 on managing soil pollution, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 
(SDG 3.9 and 15.3), the Minamata Convention (Article 12), the Stockholm Convention (Article 6), the Ostrava declaration of the 6th 
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. 

18 

 
                                                           
All  Member  States  face  the  same  challenges  and  independently  have  to  develop  national 
methodologies  for  assessing  the  risks  of  soil  contamination.  In  2018,  there  were  more  than 
21 000  registered  chemicals  on  the  EU  market102.  The  PFAS  group  alone  consists  of  more 
than 4 700 chemicals highly persistent in the soil and in humans103. Only a very small fraction 
of  all  chemicals  is  screened  in  the  standard  soil  analysis,  and  even  fewer  substances  are 
regulated  under  national  legislation  with  contaminant  thresholds.  This  means  that  most 
chemicals remain undetected in the soil. The fate, behaviour and (eco)toxicological effects of 
contaminants of emerging concern are not yet well understood, especially for lower orders of 
soil  biota.  There  is  a  need  to  assess  the  risks  of  these  substances  already  present  in  soils, 
sediments and water bodies, and take appropriate remedial action if required. This is a shared 
challenge  that  requires  increased  knowledge  and  data  exchange  and  collaboration  between 
Member States. 

Actions 

As part of the impact assessment for a Soil Health Law, the Commission will:  

- consider options for proposing legally binding provisions to: 

i)  identify contaminated sites, ii) set up an inventory and register of those sites and 
iii)  remediate  the  sites  that    pose  a  significant  risk  to  human  health  and  the 
environment by 2050.  

- assess the feasibility of the introduction of a soil health certificate for land transaction 
to provide land buyers with information on the key characteristics and health of the soils in 
the site they intend to purchase.  

In addition to these legal provisions, the Commission will: 

 

In  cooperation  with  Member  States  and  stakeholders,  facilitate  a  dialogue  and 
knowledge  exchange  on  the  risk  assessment  methodologies  for  soil  contamination 
and identify best practices.  

  By 2024, develop an EU priority list for contaminants of major and/or emerging 
concern  that  pose  significant  risks  for  European  soil  quality,  and  for  which 
vigilance and priority action at European and national level is needed.  

  By  2022,  revise  the  Industrial  Emissions  Directive104  and  by  2023  evaluate  the 
Environmental Liability Directive105, including with regard to the definition of land 
damage and the role of financial security. 

Member States should: 

  Establish  a system  of soil health certificates for land transactions, with  support by 
the  EU  research  programme  and  mission  ‘A  Soil  Deal  for  Europe’,  if  this  is  not 
included in the Soil Health Law.  

102 https://echa.europa.eu/-/21-551-chemicals-on-eu-market-now-registered 
103 SWD(2020)249 on Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accompanying the Chemicals Strategy 
104 Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU 
105 Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/CE 

19 

 
                                                           
5.  WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SOILS 

It  is  essential to  make more and better  knowledge and  data  about  soils  available and  to  use 
this knowledge and data. Access to soil research data will be made easier through the creation 
of a Green Deal dataspace106 and the implementation of the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil 
Deal  for  Europe’.  Building  on  the  INSPIRE  Directive107,  open  standards  for  data  should 
improve the interoperability of national, EU and global soil monitoring frameworks. 

5.1.  Soil and the digital agenda 

Digital technologies present new and untapped opportunities for monitoring the 
pressures  and  condition  of  soils  and  land.  Our  knowledge  on  soil  in  the  last 
decade has gained enormously from, Earth observation, in particular RADAR 
systems  and  hyperspectral  sensors,  remote  sensing,  new  techniques  such  as 
DNA analysis for soil organisms. The target of the Farm to Fork Strategy108 on 
availability of fast broadband internet, also in rural areas, will help data transfer and smart use 
as well as real-time monitoring with sensors. Examples of digital solutions for addressing soil 
pollution,  including  FaST109,  have  been  highlighted  in  the  Zero  Pollution  Action  Plan110. 
Copernicus,  the  European  Union's  Earth  observation  programme  and  its  land  monitoring 
service111 will continue to provide data on bio-geophysical variables, land cover and land use 
in the EU and beyond. These activities will radically contribute to innovative soil research and 
use.  Through  these  activities,  it  will  also  be  possible  to  increasingly  use  machine  learning 
techniques and use more artificial intelligence solutions from sensing systems (such as those 
provided  by  precision  agriculture)  and  field-based  measuring  systems  (e.g.  hand-held 
spectrometers, portable DNA extraction, on-site chemical analysis). 

Actions 

The Commission will: 

  Enhance  the  use  of  digital  tools  and  Copernicus  and  rely  on  the  JRC  to  further 
develop the European Soil Observatory (EUSO)112 and the EEA to develop the Land 
Information System for Europe (LISE), supported by geospatial analytical products. 

  Encourage  and  support  Member  States  to  set-up  farm  sustainability  tools  for 
nutrients  (FaST),  as  part  of  the  farm  advisory  services  under  the  new  CAP.  Such 
tools will provide to farmers recommendations about the use of fertilisers, compliant 
with existing legislation and based on available data and knowledge.    

 

Improve  the  modelling  capacity  of  soil-related  processes  under  the  Commission’s 
Destination Earth113 in collaboration with the Horizon Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal 
for Europe’.  

5.2.  Soil data and monitoring 

106 A European Strategy for Data, COM(2020)66. 
107 INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC. 
108 Farm to Fork Strategy, COM(2020)381. 
109 Farm sustainability tool, see https://fastplatform.eu  
110 SWD(2021) 140 
111 Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS)  
112 https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/eu-soil-observatory 
113 See https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/destination-earth  

20 

 
                                                           
Several soil monitoring systems are present at Member State level114. However, 
overall,  they are fragmented, incomplete and  in  general  not  harmonised  across 
the  EU.  Data  are  often  not  yet  publicly  shared  in  accordance  with  the 
mechanism  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive115.  There  is  currently  no  systematic 
comprehensive monitoring of policy-relevant issues in many countries due to a 
lack of capacity or resources. The Commission’s LUCAS soil initiative is the only monitoring 
system  that  provides  harmonised  and  systematic  on-the-field  measurements  for  all  Member 
States.  But  it  needs  to  be  better  integrated  with  activities  in  Member  States  and  other  data 
flows.  Also  the  EEA  provides  indicators  such  as  on  soil  sealing  and  land  take,  yet  our 
knowledge on soil will greatly profit from better data resolution, more frequent measurements 
and  harmonisation  of  approaches  between  Member  States.    An  integrated  soil  indicator 
system is needed to serve as an umbrella for further monitoring and reporting116. The EUSO 
was  launched  recently  to  help  set  up  an  EU-wide  soil  monitoring  system  pursuant  to  the 
INSPIRE Directive and in connection with national reporting under the NEC Directive117 and 
LULUCF Regulation118.  

Actions 

To fill the monitoring gap for soil, the Commission will: 

  Following  an  impact  assessment,  and  as  part  of  the  Soil  Health  Law,  consider 
provisions on monitoring soil and soil biodiversity and reporting on the condition of 
soil, building on existing national and EU schemes, including LUCAS soil module; 
consider, as part of the impact assessment, providing a legal basis for the LUCAS 
soil survey to legally anchor the objectives, conditions, funding, access to land, use 
of data and privacy issues.  

  Provide  through  the  LUCAS  soil  surveys  EU-wide  harmonised  monitoring  of  the 
evolution in soil organic carbon content and carbon stocks, complementing Member 
States’ reporting under the LULUCF Regulation. 

  Work  towards  integrating  a  pollution  module  in  the  future  LUCAS  in  2022  soil 
survey119 to better understand and map the issue of diffuse soil contamination120 in 
the  EU,  and  produce  a  clean  soil  outlook  as  part  of  the  integrated  zero  pollution 
monitoring and outlook framework. 

 

In implementing the EUSO: 

o  Identify,  with  the  contribution  of  the  European  joint  programme  on 
agricultural  soil  management121,  soil  monitoring  gaps,  in  dialogue  with 
Member States and other key stakeholders  

o  Develop  a  soil  dashboard  with  a  set  of  reliable  soil  indicators  integrating 

114 https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/SOIL/National+monitoring+systems  
115 INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC. 
116 See also EEA (2021), Soil monitoring in Europe - Indicators and thresholds for soil quality assessments 
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/soil-monitoring-in-europe-indicators-and-thresholds/  
117 National Emissions Reduction Commitments Directive 2016/2284, Article 9. 
118 Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation 2018/841. 
119 LUCAS - ESDAC - European Commission 
120 This is being developed in coherence with other monitoring initiatives such as the EU groundwater watch list process.  
121 EJP SOIL - Towards climate-smart sustainable management of agricultural soils 

21 

 
                                                           
trends and foresight. 

o  Develop  an  EU  inventory  of  soil  biota  in  order  to  monitor  and  better 

understand soil biodiversity. 

5.3.  Soil research and innovation 

The  Horizon  Europe  framework  programme  for  research  and  innovation  will 
facilitate knowledge creation, collaboration and thereby accelerate the transition 
to healthy soils. In this context, there are relevant instruments available through 
Cluster  6,  Food2030  priorities,122  and  the  Horizon  Europe  Partnerships  (Food 
System,  Biodiversity,  Agroecology,  Agriculture  of  Data,  etc.).  In  addition,  the  Horizon 
Europe Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’ provides a comprehensive framework for research 
and  innovation  and  contributes  to  creating  a  harmonised  EU  framework  for  soil  monitoring 
and reporting and effective research-policy and research-practice interfaces to achieve healthy 
soils. In addition to addressing gaps in our knowledge, the mission will test, demonstrate and 
deploy solutions for soil health for their widespread uptake through a network of ‘living labs’ 
(experiments  and  innovation  in  a  laboratory  on  the  ground)  and  ‘lighthouses’  (places 
showcasing good practices).  

Actions 

Through  Horizon  Europe  and  in  particular  the  Mission  ’A  Soil  Deal  for  Europe’,  the 
Commission will: 

 

Implement  ambitious  roadmaps  for  research  and  innovation  to  expand  the 
knowledge base for soil stewardship and widen the access to and use of results from 
research activities.  

  Continue  providing  substantial  funding  to  i)  research  solutions  to  increase  soil 
biodiversity;  ii)  address  soil  degradation;  iii)  pilot  innovative  technologies  for 
decontamination.  

  Promote the development and use of digital and remote sensors, apps and handheld 

samplers to assess soil quality.   

6.  ENABLING THE TRANSITION TO HEALTHY SOILS 

6.1. Private finance and EU funding 

Entire value and supply chains and economic sectors depend on healthy soils. 
Yet, many of the actors in these value chains are unaware of the vulnerability 
of  their  assets  to  soil  degradation.  Investors  and  banks  are  becoming 
increasingly aware of the financial risks of soil degradation and the returns of 
prevention  and  restoration.  Some  banks  offer  farmers  a  lower  interest  rate 
when  their  soil  is  healthy,  because  the  land  value  is  higher  and  the  loans  can  be  resold  to 
sustainable pension funds and asset managers that want to have a positive impact on people 
and the planet123. Farmers  are more  and more financially  rewarded for the carbon that their 

122 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/environment/bioeconomy/food-systems/food-2030_en  
123 Soil health for stronger farms? We can measure that (rabobank.com) 

22 

 
                                                           
soils  capture  and  the  application  of  sustainable  soil  management  practices  through  carbon 
payment  schemes124.  Companies  are  increasingly  offsetting  carbon  emissions  by  buying 
carbon  credits  from  farmers125,  investing  in  soil  health  by  applying  sustainable  farming 
practices126  or  focusing  on  the  niche  of  sustainable  land  redevelopment  and  remediation127.  
As for funding, the current EU budget provides sources of funding to support the sustainable 
use  and  restoration  of  degraded  soils,  such  as  the  CAP,  the  LIFE  programme,  Horizon 
Europe, Cohesion Policy. In the Recovery and Resilience Facility, there is  as well a number 
of  national  Recovery  and  Resilience  Plans  that  have  included  measures  on  soil  protection. 
Particularly  relevant  in  this  context  is  the  Commission’s  ‘do  no  significant  harm’  technical 
guidance to help Member States prepare their Recovery and Resilience Plans128. 

The Commission will set up a dialogue with the public, private and financial sector to see how 
financing  the  prevention  of  soil  degradation  and  the  restoration  of  soil  health  can  be 
improved. 

Actions 

The Commission will: 

  Publish a guide in 2022 with an overview of EU funding opportunities available for 
the  protection,  sustainable  management  and  restoration  of  soils,  once  all  priorities 
and focus areas for 2021-2027 have been clearly defined. 

  Promote  investments  in  projects  that  sustainably  manage  and  do  not  significantly 

harm soils under the EU Taxonomy Regulation129 and its delegated acts.  

6.2.  Soil literacy and societal engagement 

Soil is probably the most undervalued element of nature. Increasingly urbanised 
populations often see it just as ‘dirt’ and as an unlimited natural resource, often 
unaware of its relevance in their daily lives and of its key role in the sustainable 
and  circular  bioeconomy.  This  reflects  a  lack  of  emphasis  in  education  of  the 
importance  of  soil  and  highlights  the  need  to  increase  public  awareness  and 
societal engagement. Soil literacy combines broad awareness with specialised understanding 
across a range of disciplines through communication and educational activities that bring soil 
closer  to  people’s  lives.  To  achieve  this,  all  stakeholders  must  have  access  to  both  general 
education on soil and targeted training for specialist needs. Formal soil education should be 
complemented with active hands on learning and messaging on the sharing of best practices 
and shared knowledge. The recently adopted implementation plan of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal 
for  Europe’  outlines  the  significant  contribution  of  the  mission  to  increase  soil  literacy 
through wide engagement with citizens and actors involved along the entire food production 
chain, including farmers, food companies and retailers. 

Actions 

124 E.g. Soil Capital 
125 Microsoft uses blockchain modern technology to purchase soil carbon credit in Australia 
126 Living Soils initiative: Nestlé, McCain and Lidl address soil health in France 
127 Revive 
128 European Commission C(2021) 1054 
129 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 
2019/2088. 

23 

 
                                                           
The Commission, together with Member States and stakeholders, will: 

  Launch  a  soil  literacy  engagement  and  awareness  initiative,  building  on  the 

successful example of the “ocean literacy”130.  

  Facilitate  and  encourage  the  sharing  of  best  practices  in  communication  and 
engagement  on  soil,  building  an  EUSO  portal  and  setting  up  outreach  networks 
aiming at healthy soils. 

 

Integrate  the  issue  of  soil  degradation  under  the  European  common  reference 
framework of sustainability competences131, to develop the concept of soil literacy 
with European citizens.  

  Run a comprehensive portfolio of actions for communication, education, and citizen 
engagement  to  promote  soil  health  at  various  levels  and  bring  soils  closer  to 
citizen’s values, building on the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and the EU Soil 
Observatory. 

7.  CONCLUSIONS 

Bestowing  on  soil  the  same  level  of  protection  as  air  and  water  and  marine 
environment  and  granting  the  same  attention  to  soil  inhabitants  as  we  do  for 
above-ground  biodiversity  is  a  major  challenge.  To  succeed,  the  vision  and  the 
commitments  set  out  in  this  strategy  pave  the  way  for  ambitious  and  necessary 
changes.  Successful  implementation  of  this  soil  strategy  requires  inclusive  and  broad 
governance arrangements at national, EU and global level.  

We  need  all  stakeholders  around  the  table  to  discuss  and  collaborate.  Therefore,  a  new 
governance  model  based  on  a  ‘network  of  networks’  and  inspired  by  the  Coalition4Oceans 
will be created: the EU Coalition4HealthySoils (C4HS). At its core, the EU Soil Expert Group 
will  be  enlarged  to  include  a  balanced  representation  of  stakeholders.  Policy  action  will 
continue to be based on data and knowledge from the EU Soil Observatory and the EIONET 
National Reference Centre on Soil132 and the Mission ’A Soil Deal for Europe’133. C4HS will 
interact  with  other  relevant  EU  expert  groups,  the  Global  Soil  Partnership  and  its  European 
Soil Partnership134. The EU has always strongly supported the Global Soil Partnership of the 
FAO  and  its  regional  branches  and  will  continue  to  do  so  to  improve  governance  on 
sustainable soil management, including at global level.  

Our  soils  need  to  be  healed.  It  is  a  matter  of  our  own  survival.  This  Strategy  sets  therefore 
ambitious  and  necessary  objectives,  on  which  we  need  to  urgently  deliver.  It  is  backed  by 
scientific  evidence  and  puts  forward  a  set  of  actions  which  will  help  us  to  get  there.  By 
launching this Strategy, the Commission is going to engage in discussions with the European 
Parliament,  the  Council,  the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee,  the  Committee  of 

130 https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/  
131 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12985-Environmental-sustainability-education-and-training_en    
132 https://www.eionet.europa.eu/countries/national-reference-centres/nrc-on-soil  
133 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-
europe/missions-horizon-europe/soil-health-and-food_en  
134 http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/regional-partnerships/europe/en/  

24 

 
 
                                                           
Regions, as well as with civil society, economic operators and other stakeholders to make this 
Strategy and its actions a common success. 

25