Renew Europe welcomed the approval of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law by the European Parliament Committee on Environment.  

Up to 70% of all soils in Europe are currently in an unhealthy state, and there is a lack of comprehensive data on soil health from monitoring, resulting in a lack of consistency and comparability across the EU. 

The new legislation aims to ensure healthy soils across the EU by 2050 by setting up a solid and flexible legal framework for soil monitoring and assessment. 

“Soil is a living treasure under our feet. It purifies water, regulates climate and provides food to our tables,” said rapporteur and European Parliament Vice President Martin Hojsík MEP (Progresívne Slovensko, SK). 

Healthy soils are at the basis of sustainable food production and play a key role in fighting climate change.

Today's vote in @EP_Environment on Soil Monitoring and Resilience is excellent news for Europe's citizens & farmers!

🎥&🗞️@martinhojsik https://t.co/BtmBW4S7yz pic.twitter.com/4ULJr8A0oE

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) March 11, 2024

“Without soil we have no future and farmers have no living. That is why we work to have better data to help us make our soils healthy and resilient for our future.” 

To support EU Member States in their mission for better soils, the Commission will establish a sustainable soil management toolbox that will provide soil managers with practical information on the use of sustainable soil management practices. 

Healthy soils are an essential part of the solution to ensure a sustainable and resilient economy and environment as they increase resilience to climate change, extreme weather events and droughts and floods, and provide biomass for the bioeconomy.