Brussels (dpa) – Because many soils in the EU are in poor condition, their status is to be monitored more closely in the future. Negotiators from the EU countries and the European Parliament agreed that EU states will assess the health of soils using uniform indicators. According to reports, initial steps have been agreed upon to monitor pesticides and so-called forever chemicals within this framework. 

As emphasized by the European Parliament, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of European soils are in poor condition due to, among other things, more intensive agriculture and climate change. According to the EU Commission, this results in damage of at least 50 billion euros per year. According to EU states, healthy soils are the foundation for 95 percent of the food we eat and host more than a quarter of the world’s biodiversity.

However, according to Parliament, farmers, foresters, and other landowners will not face any new obligations. Instead, EU countries are required to support them in improving soil health and resilience. This includes consultations and training measures. (April 10)