Press release 21/10/2020
The European Compost Network (ECN) welcomes the Council conclusions on the farm to fork strategy[1], that EU Agriculture ministers adopted on 19 October 2020. With these conclusions, EU ministers highlight the sustainable character of carbon storage. The Council considers with interest the Commission’s intention to bring forward a new EU carbon farming initiative and to develop a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals. In particular, EU ministers call the Commission for special emphasis on the consequences for soil organic matter and the co-benefits for certain sustainable agricultural practices. ECN believes that a coherent policy framework which includes binding targets, incentives and measures for carbon storage will help to protect and restore soil health and, ultimately, to achieve the European Green Deal Objectives.
Soils are essential ecosystems that deliver valuable services such as the provision of food, energy and raw materials, carbon sequestration, water purification and infiltration, nutrient regulation, pest control and recreation. Healthy soils provide these functions simultaneously, therefore, soil is crucial for fighting climate change, protecting human health, safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring food security. Translated in political language, it means that healthy soils are a key enabler to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal such as climate neutrality, biodiversity restoration, zero pollution, sustainable food systems and a resilient environment.
However, soil health is at risk in Europe and globally. For instance, 12.7% of European soil is affected by moderate to high erosion, causing an estimated loss of agricultural production in the EU of €1.25 billion per year. In Southern, Central and Eastern Europe 25% of soils show high or very high risk of desertification corresponding to about 411.000 km². Large parts of Southern Europe are likely to become desertified by 2050.
To address these challenges, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030[2] announced the update of the EU Soil Thematic Strategy to address soil and land degradation in a comprehensive way and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030. The updated EU Soil Thematic Strategy should contribute to the objective of increasing soil organic matter and restore carbon-rich ecosystems. However, the European Environment Agency recently concluded that the lack of a comprehensive and coherent policy framework which includes binding targets, incentives and measures to protect land and soil is a key gap that reduces the effectiveness of the existing policies and may limit Europe’s ability to achieve future objectives[3]. For instance, currently there is no legal framework or incentive to increase soil organic matter, despite funding being available for creating Good Environmental and Agricultural Conditions (GAECs) under the Common Agricultural Policy. If no additional action is taken, there is a high risk that the EU will fail its Green Deal and international objectives.
The ECN press release'ECN welcomes the EU Council conclusions on the Farm to Fork Strategy' can be downloaded here.
[1] European Commission (2020): A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system. COM/2020/381 final
[2] European Commission (2020): Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives COM(2020) 380 final
[3] European Environment Agency (2019): The European Environment: State and Outlook 2020