EU Acts Against Soil Degradation in Europe
Europe is taking a data-driven path to restore soil health and secure food systems. With 19 soil indicators tracked by the EU Soil Observatory, new tools and projects are guiding action to fight degradation and build resilience against climate change.
Why Europe Is Taking Soil Health Seriously?
Soil is the heart of farming and without healthy soil, crops struggle, animals lack good feed, and food supplies become weaker. Right now, about two-thirds of Europe’s soil is unhealthy. In the UK, over a third of farmland is already degraded because of years of heavy farming. This damage shows up in poor harvests, soil that can’t hold water, and land losing its natural richness. It’s a quiet crisis that threatens food, nature, and even how we cope with climate change. To fix this, Europe has acted. In April 2025, the EU passed the first-ever Soil Monitoring Law. This law asks every country to check soil quality, fight pollution, and stop harmful practices like covering land with concrete. The big goal is to make all soil healthy again by 2050. That may sound far away, but the work starts now because the future of farming depends on it.
What Can Farmers Do Today?
Healthy soil starts with small steps on the farm. As a farmer one can adopt a few soil-friendly practices:
- Add organic matter: Use compost or manure to build soil fertility and structure.
- Plant cover crops: Keep soil covered to prevent erosion and improve water retention.
- Rotate crops: Break pest and disease cycles while giving soils time to recover.
- Reduce tillage: Avoid over-ploughing to protect soil organisms and moisture.
By caring for the soil today, we help secure better harvests tomorrow and play a key role in protecting Europe’s food and climate future.
A Movement to Bring Soils Back to Life
Science and teamwork are at the center of restoring soil. The EU Soil Observatory now checks 19 key signs of soil health, helping farmers, communities, and leaders see where care is needed most. At the same time, real solutions like composting, agroforestry, biochar, and regenerative farming are at the core to give soils new life. This shows a powerful shift: soil is no longer treated as dirt under our feet, but as the foundation of farming and food. By restoring it, Europe can secure harvests, protect nature, and fight climate change. This is more than policy—it could be the start of a movement.