EU Soil Monitoring Law
Soil degradation costs the EU over €50 billion annually. The new law aims to save billions in lost yields, health, and climate resilience. The EU Soil Observatory now tracks 19 signs of soil health from erosion to biodiversity loss empowering farmers, communities, and leaders to act before it’s too late.
A Landmark for Europe’s Future
The EU Soil Monitoring Law was formally agreed upon in early 2025, following years of advocacy and negotiation. The European Commission took the lead, proposing the law in July 2023 as part of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal. The push was driven by alarming data of EU soils are unhealthy due to urbanization, intensive agriculture, and climate change, threatening food security and biodiversity. The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement in April 2025, emphasizing better support for farmers and a gradual, proportionate approach to avoid excessive bureaucracy. The law will enter into force after formal adoption, with member states given three years to comply. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) (hosted by ESDAC/JRC) provided the scientific backbone by building the Soil Health Dashboard and proposing the core indicators that make the law actionable. This move marks the EU’s first-ever harmonised framework for soil monitoring, giving companies, insurers, and procurement teams reliable soil intelligence across regions.
The role of the EU soil observatory
At the heart of the law is harmonised monitoring. The EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the Soil Health Dashboard synthesise data around a set of indicators developed by the JRC and expert panels. They cover erosion, pollution, nutrients, organic carbon and biological, physical, and land-use pressures. This includes:
- Erosion & loss: water erosion, wind erosion, tillage/harvest erosion, sediment loss.
- Organic carbon & nutrients: soil organic carbon change, nitrogen balance/surplus, phosphorus deficit/excess, potassium where available.
- Biological & biodiversity: soil biodiversity loss, biodiversity indicators tied to land use.
- Pollution & contaminants: heavy metals (copper, mercury, zinc), pesticide risk proxies, other pollutants.
- Physical & structural: soil compaction, salinization, waterlogging, loss of organic soils/peat degradation.
- Land use and sealing: soil sealing (urban cover), land take/soil removal.
- Fire & other drivers: fire-related erosion/impacts and local pressures.
The indicators are chosen because they are measurable with harmonised methods such as soil sampling and remote sensing which link directly to ecosystem services, e.g., crop production, water regulation, and carbon storage.
Costs today, savings tomorrow
Soil degradation currently costs the European Union between €40.9 and €72.7 billion each year, with some estimates rising to €140 billion when all degradation processes are included. Degraded soils lead to lower crop yields, higher input costs for farmers, and greater vulnerability to floods and droughts; all of which strain public budgets and private sector profitability. The EU Soil Monitoring Law is designed to reverse these losses by:
- Boosting Agricultural Productivity: Healthier soils can increase crop yields by up to 15% in areas affected by compaction or erosion, directly benefiting farmers’ incomes and food security.
- Reducing Input Costs: Sustainable soil management reduces the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, lowering operational expenses for farmers.
- Enhancing Climate Resilience: Soils rich in organic matter store more carbon and water, reducing the economic impact of extreme weather events. This translates to lower disaster recovery costs for governments and insurers.
- Supporting Rural Economies: The law is expected to stimulate investment in sustainable practices, with EU and national funds earmarked for soil restoration. This includes support for research, innovation, and capacity-building, creating new jobs in green agriculture and land management.
A strategic economic investment
The EU Soil Monitoring Law is more than an environmental milestone — it is a strategic economic investment. By standardising soil intelligence, the EU can save ~€50 billion annually, unlock new business opportunities, and secure the long-term resilience of agriculture. Its success will depend on collaboration across governments, farmers, and private sector actors. For food processors, retailers, and insurers, the Soil Observatory’s data means reduced uncertainty, better yield forecasts, targeted sourcing, and lower supply risks. For farmers, the law offers support through advice, funding, and pilot projects, helping reduce the cost of transition. The outcome is a shared win: healthier soils, stronger economies, and greater food security for society.