Towards a new framework for EU soils?

Soil is a non-renewable resource key to all growing and living on it. Part of the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030, the new soil strategy ‘Healthy Soils’, will update the current strategy to address soil degradation and preserve land resources across Europe. The adoption of the new strategy is planned for the second quarter of 2021.

Between February and April 2021, the Commission opened a public consultation on soils. IFOAM Organics Europe contributed to this consultation and emphasized organic farmers’ key role.

In parallel, the European Parliament just adopted a resolution calling on the Commission to design an EU-wide common legal framework for the protection and sustainable use of soils. In this resolution, MEPs ask Member States to introduce coherent soil protection measures in their national CAP Strategic Plans. They also call for measures to promote organic farming, and the use of organic matter additions to soil.

For more information on soils and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please contact [email protected]. Please do note that we prioritise our members’ requests. For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].