New Soil Monitoring Law
In Denmark as in the rest of the world, agriculture causes degradation of soil health. Since soils are critical for food and water security as well as climate control, the soil needs protecting measures just as water and air already have. Previous attempts to establish the legislation protecting the soil (Soil Framework Directive) have failed.
In recognition of climate change and environmental degradation, the European Commission adopted The European Green Deal, striving to become the first climate-neutral continent. As a part of the Green Deal and with the aim to ensure more sustainable use of plant and soil resources, the European Commission published a proposal of a New Soil Monitoring Law, released on July 5, 2023.
The primary goal of the proposed legislation is to ensure that all soils are in a state of good health by 2050, aligning with the EU's ambition of achieving zero pollution. To accomplish this aim, the law establishes a consistent interpretation of soil health, a comprehensive and logical system for monitoring, and sets forth regulations for sustainable soil remediation and the restoration of polluted sites.
If the New Soil Monitoring law is adopted, a lot of research is needed. Here are some key areas of research needed to ensure healthy soil in the future:
- Soil Management Practices: Research is needed to identify and promote sustainable soil management practices to prevent
a. Soil Erosion
b. Soil Compaction
c. Loss of Carbon - Microbial Ecology: Understanding the role of soil microorganisms for soil health, e.g in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition
- Soil Carbon Sequestration: Investigating methods to enhance soil carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation and soil health in general
- Soil Health Assessment: Developing standardized methods for monitoring, mapping and assessing soil health
- Education and Awareness: Conducting research on effective educational approaches and public outreach strategies to raise awareness about the importance of soil health among various stakeholders, including farmers, policymakers, and the general public
Across Europe, more than 60% of soils are considered unhealthy, and in Denmark our soils are no better. In Denmark the protection and monitoring of soil health is very limited. In the figure below you can see the health status of Danish soils at present, with about 67% of soils under degradation.
We have a monumental task in front of us.