We must focus on the soil

The soil resource is threatened by the intensification of agricultural production and by the general developments in society. The soil resource is the basis for the production of more than 95 per cent of the food on our planet and is central to a number of other key ecosystem services such as the production of bioenergy, carbon storage, water purification and supply and preservation of biodiversity.

In Denmark the majority of all environmental legislation since the 1970s has focused on the protection of the aquatic environment. The discovery of dead lobsters in the sea near Gilleleje in 1986 was directly responsible for the launch of a number of action plans for the aquatic environment. This development was supported by the Water Framework Directive that was adopted in the EU in year 2000. 

In Denmark, soil resources are not protected by law apart from some ambiguous terms in agricultural law, and these are not enforced. Individuals, the agricultural sector and society do very little to protect our soil resources.

In 2014, an attempt by the European Commission to adopt a Soil Framework Directive capsized in the light of protests by the major EU countries. This directive should have formed the legal framework for the protection of the soil resource in member countries.

Soil partnership

Some of the ideas from the work on the soil framework directive were used in a parallel initiative to establish the “Global Soil Partnership (GSP)”, which is a voluntary partnership between all the actors in the soil resource area. States, NGOs, institutions and companies participate in this partnership. AGRO is a partner in the initiative. GSP has been ratified in Denmark.

In order to promote the sustainable development of the soil resource, GSP has identified five areas where the members should make a coordinated effort. GSP must:

1.      Promote sustainable management of the soil resource

2.      Promote investments, technical liaisons, policy development, education and advisory work in the area

3.      Promote research and development on the soil resource

4.      Improve both the quality and quantity of soil information

5.      Harmonise measurements, methods and indicators

As a central player in Denmark in the area of research-based policy support, education and research in agriculture, AGRO has an obligation to work proactively.

Compaction as a result of large heavy machinery poses a serious threat to soil productivity and other central ecosystem services. Photo: Per Schjønning