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Is the EU’s First-Ever Soil Law for Food System Resilience Bold Enough?

Is the EU's First-Ever Soil Law for Food System Resilience Bold Enough? bold enough, but is it bold enough? Tags: EU, EU tables first-ever soil law for food system resilience, food system resilience, soil law Food and Beverage Business

The European Union (EU) has set a goal to achieve healthy soils by 2050, but current research indicates that there is still significant work to be done. With over 60% of European soils considered unhealthy, it is clear that unsustainable land management practices, sealing, contamination, and overexploitation are contributing to further degradation. These issues can be exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events.

To address these urgent soil threats, the European Commission has adopted a new regulation proposal called the Soil Monitoring Law. This proposed law aims to establish a legal framework that will aid in achieving healthy soils by 2050.

Soil degradation is not only a major driver of climate and biodiversity crises but also has economic consequences. It is estimated that soil degradation costs billions of euros per year due to the loss of essential ecosystem services such as food production, timber, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and water regulation. Additionally, degraded soils put increased pressure on healthy soils, affecting farmers’ livelihoods and their ability to produce nutritious food.

The EU believes that by regenerating soils and promoting sustainable soil management practices, the resilience of European food and farming systems will be strengthened, and costs associated with soil degradation will be reduced. The increased adoption of sustainable practices is expected to maintain or improve soil fertility, productivity, and yields.

The Soil Monitoring Law outlines a three-fold approach to achieving healthy soils. Firstly, it establishes a monitoring framework for all soils across the EU, enabling Member States to implement measures to regenerate degraded soils. Secondly, it aims to make sustainable soil management the norm by guiding Member States in defining appropriate practices and banning those that contribute to soil degradation. Finally, the law requires Member States to identify potentially contaminated sites, investigate them, and address any risks to human health and the environment.

While the adoption of the Soil Monitoring Law is generally seen as a positive step, there are concerns regarding its lack of ambition. Environmental organizations such as the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) emphasize the importance of legally binding targets and mandatory plans for soil improvement. They argue that the proposed directive’s name change from “Soil Health Law” to “Soil Monitoring Law” indicates a narrower focus on observing soil health rather than actively improving it. Consequently, these organizations call for significant improvements to ensure the effective protection and restoration of EU soils.

One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), a business coalition consisting of major companies like Nestlé, Danone, and Unilever, echoes these concerns about insufficient ambition. They emphasize the need for a more ambitious framework and clear guidance to address the deteriorating soil health trend across Europe.

Additionally, access to adequate funding is highlighted as a crucial aspect of achieving better soil health. The food and beverage manufacturing industry, represented by FoodDrinkEurope (FDE), identifies a significant financing gap in meeting the EU’s ambitious goals. They argue that farmers need financial support to transition to more sustainable farming practices, including improved soil management. Adequate funding would de-risk farmers’ transition to sustainable practices while safeguarding their income and productivity.

In conclusion, the EU’s aim to achieve healthy soils by 2050 is essential for addressing climate and biodiversity crises, as well as for ensuring sustainable agriculture and food production. The proposed Soil Monitoring Law is a step in the right direction, but there are calls for greater ambition, clear guidelines, and increased funding to effectively protect and restore EU soils.

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