[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/8908\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOn course for healthier, more sustainable soil\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESoil hosts a quarter of our planet\u2019s biodiversity and is home to about a quarter of all living species. But how many of us give this precious resource a second thought?\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWe should, because soil directly or indirectly produces about 95% of our food. Soil is important in so many other ways, too. It provides us with raw materials to fight diseases and ecosystem services that purify our drinking water, lower the risk of floods and droughts, and store huge amounts of carbon to alleviate climate change.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStorehouse of life\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESoil biodiversity is the life that exists within the soil, from bacteria to earthworms. These living organisms keep soil healthy and fertile. Soil biodiversity is key to meeting \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/?qid=1576150542719\u0026amp;uri=COM%3A2019%3A640%3AFIN\u0022\u003EEuropean Green Deal\u003C\/a\u003E objectives such as climate neutrality, biodiversity restoration, zero pollution, healthy and sustainable food systems, and a resilient environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe EU wants to lead the transition towards healthy soils for food, people, nature and the climate by 2030. One problem is that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/knowledge.unccd.int\/sites\/default\/files\/2018-06\/GLO English_Full_Report_rev1.pdf\u0022\u003Eabout 970 million tonnes of soil is lost to erosion each year in Europe\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIf this below-ground treasure is so important to us, then why are we allowing it to be destroyed? To repair or reverse the damage to soil\u2019s rich yet fragile habitat takes decades \u2013 even centuries. We need to preserve the quality of soil before it is too late.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESoil health is a major concern for the Commission. It is therefore adopting a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/environment\/news\/commission-consults-new-eu-soil-strategy-2021-02-02_en\u0022\u003Enew Soil Strategy\u003C\/a\u003E in 2021 and laying the foundation for a common EU framework to preserve, protect and restore soil. In addition, a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/research-and-innovation\/funding\/funding-opportunities\/funding-programmes-and-open-calls\/horizon-europe\/missions-horizon-europe\/soil-health-and-food_en\u0022\u003EHorizon Europe mission\u003C\/a\u003E will lead the transition towards healthy soils for people, nature and the climate by 2030.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMechanisms that drive soil structure\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EA third of the world\u2019s soil is degraded. This means that the quality of soil declines and loses some of its capacity to support animals and plants. Soil biodiversity greatly contributes to soil health. Understanding the relationship between soil biodiversity and function is important to improve strategies to restore degraded soil.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EFeeding relationships are important for soil structure, suggesting that stimulating the recolonisation of degraded soils by diverse communities of organisms will promote ecological engineering of soil structure, and therefore restore soil habitat.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EProf. Dr Stefan Scheu, head of animal ecology at the University of G\u00f6ttingen\u2019s Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology in Germany.\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe soil food web \u2013 a network of food chains linking the organisms that live in soil \u2013 is a good starting point. \u2018Feeding relationships are important for soil structure, suggesting that stimulating the recolonisation of degraded soils by diverse communities of organisms will promote ecological engineering of soil structure, and therefore restore soil habitat,\u2019 explained Prof. Dr Stefan Scheu, head of animal ecology at the University of G\u00f6ttingen\u2019s Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology in Germany. This main finding came as a result of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/750249\u0022\u003EAGG-REST-WEB\u003C\/a\u003E project hosted by him and coordinated by Dr Amandine Erktan.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EFarmers are custodians of the European countryside.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr David Fern\u00e1ndez Calvi\u00f1o, researcher at the Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, University of Vigo, Spain.\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EUsing the food web to broaden our understanding of soils can also help to combat climate change. Research into feeding relationships could one day allow us to better predict how changes in land management practices affect carbon storage in soil. \u2018We still don\u2019t fully understand the mechanisms that drive carbon storage in soils,\u2019 noted Prof. Dr Scheu. Some soils receive a lot of organic matter (plant and animal debris) but store little carbon, while others receive relatively little and store large amounts. Most organic matter in soils is not accessible to soil organisms, and this increases carbon storage. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Farmers are custodians of the European countryside,\u2019 stated Dr David Fern\u00e1ndez Calvi\u00f1o, researcher at the Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, University of Vigo, Spain. \u2018The tools and methods they use play a major role in safeguarding soil biodiversity.\u2019 From universities, research centres and industry to non-profit organisations, farmer cooperatives and public administrations, he is working with a broad range of stakeholders to explore the biodiversity of soils in nine regions across Europe as coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/817819\u0022\u003ESoildiverAgro\u003C\/a\u003E project.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECutting-edge management approaches for better soils\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESeveral innovative management practices and cropping systems are currently being trialled in the field to protect, improve or increase soil biodiversity. Dr Fern\u00e1ndez Calvi\u00f1o is looking into optimal crop rotations and multiple cropping and testing different alternatives to trap crops \u2013 plants that attract pests, usually insects, away from nearby crops. In addition, he is implementing a pest alert system to reduce the use of fungicides in potato and wheat crops.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EKnowledge of the links between soil biodiversity and agriculture is still limited, which holds back the integration of biodiversity into farming practices. One successful method, however, is biocontrol, which uses natural \u201cenemies\u201d like microorganisms and insects to control pests and diseases. Another promising approach is the use of biofertilisers, which contain living microorganisms that improve a plant\u2019s growth and yield, as an alternative to synthetic chemical fertilisers.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Agronomical practices that adopt such approaches aim to reduce the input of chemicals and synthetic products in crops, particularly the soil ecosystem, thus promoting soil health, food security and a more sustainable approach towards agriculture, while ensuring yield and productivity,\u2019 observed biologist Dr Stefano Mocali. Dr Mocali, a researcher at the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy\u2019s leading research organisation on agri-food based in Rome is developing a new strategy for soil management to improve the effectiveness of biocontrol and biofertilisation practices in agriculture as coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/817946\u0022\u003EEXCALIBUR\u003C\/a\u003E project. The proposed strategy exploits soil biodiversity\u2019s potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe use of bio-based products will increase storage of carbon dioxide in soil thanks to improved plant growth and larger soil microorganism populations. \u2018These outcomes mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment,\u2019 said Dr Mocali.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuantifying soil biodiversity\u2019s benefits\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAssessing soil biodiversity is another key challenge. However, there is no specific or standard framework to measure it in all its complexity. \u2018A global standard is needed to avoid the fragmentation of knowledge,\u2019 noted Dr Salvador Llad\u00f3, principal investigator at the private, non-profit Leitat Technological Center in Barcelona, Spain.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EDr Llad\u00f3 is also technical and scientific coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101000371\u0022\u003ESOILGUARD\u003C\/a\u003E project, which is mobilising 25 partners from academia and industry in 17 countries around the world to boost the sustainable use of soil biodiversity. They are co-developing a holistic framework that will assess the environmental, economic and social value contained in soils.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EA global standard for soil biodiversity assessment is needed to avoid the fragmentation of knowledge.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Salvador Llad\u00f3, principal investigator at the private, non-profit Leitat Technological Center in Barcelona, Spain.\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EInformation gathered from the framework will be made available in an app. From farmers and landowners to policymakers, users of the app will be able to assess, diagnose and forecast the status of soil biodiversity. For example, a farmer who wants to transition from conventional management to organic can use the app to produce a full report on soil biodiversity and on the provision of soil-based, ecosystem services under current soil management practices. The app will also recommend region-specific strategies to increase environmental, economic and social wellbeing.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cem\u003EThe research in this article was funded by the EU. 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