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SOIL LIFETOWARDS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN EU AGRICULTURE
Celia Nyssens
ELO Biodiversity Conference,
Brussels 10th December 2019
p.2
1. What is soil life, and why should we care about it?
2. Is there a problem?
3. What farming practices foster soil biodiversity?
4. What can policy-makers do to help improve soil biodiversity?
BIODIVERSITY IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.3 Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.4 Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.5 Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.6
State of the Environment Report 2020 (EEA)
“Soil biodiversity is increasingly under pressure, as a result
of erosion, contamination and soil sealing”
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.7
▪ 12,7% of Europe’s land area is affected by
dangerous erosion
▪ 23% of soils have critical compaction in the
subsoils
▪ 65-75% of agricultural soils contain too much N
▪ 45% of agricultural soils have accumulated
Cadmium from mineral P fertilisers
▪ >80% of surveyed soil samples contained
pesticide residues
▪ In all EU regions, intensive land use negatively
affects the species richness of earthworms,
springtails and mites
EU (AGRICULTURAL) SOILS UNDER PRESSURE
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.8
Soil life thrives with:
✓ healthy soil
✓ organic matter
✓ symbiotic relationship
with plants
FARMING FOR SOIL BIODIVERSITY
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
p.9
❖ Constant soil cover
❖ Minimum disturbance of the soil
❖ Diverse crop rotations
❖ Minimal or no agro-chemicals use
❖ New crop varieties ? (eg. perennials)
❖ Switch from mineral to organic fertilisers
FARMING FOR SOIL BIODIVERSITY
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
From: D.R. Montgomery & A. Biklé (2016) The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health. W. W. Norton & Company
Roots of 100-day old tomatoes with different fertiliser treatments
p.10
FARMING FOR SOIL BIODIVERSITY
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
Healthy soils provide services for farmers & society
✓ nutrient provision,
✓ water purification & retention,
✓ filtering of pollutants,
✓ habitat for soil organisms
Functional benefits → productivity & profitability
Societal benefits → public recognition & reward
p.11
1. Implement EU envi laws
2. Effective conditionality
3. No perverse subsidies
4. New targets & policies
WHAT CAN POLICY-MAKERS DO?
Soil Life: towards a paradigm shift in EU agriculture
End negative pressures
5. Knowledge
6. Targets
7. Fund a transition
Common Agricultural Policy
EU Green Deal & Farm to Fork Strategy
Enable a paradigm shift
