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The event demonstrated that all speakers, whether from the academic

world, civil society, the European Commission or the European Parliament,

agreed on the concerns raised about soil health at EU level and its impact

on food security and climate change. They agreed that work to solve this

concern should continue. There is also a consensus among speakers

that institutional actions taken by the European Commission and FAO or

UNFCCC, need to be completed and improved through the participation of

all stakeholders in the process - including farmers, scientists, NGOs, urban

planners and health professionals - and with the support of examples of

good practice on the ground. All interested parties need to work in close

connection to build the conviction with politicians at local, national and

international level that the issue of healthy living soil is essential and cannot

be ignored anymore.

This debate should be considered as a starting point, to follow-up on the

UN Year of Soils that has now drawn to a close. It clearly pointed out that

specific agricultural practices, based on agroecological methods, free of

external chemical inputs, can improve soil organic matter and consequently,

soil capacity to store carbon. The conference also made clear that

agroecological methods should be part of a coherent policy framework on

soil in order to bring EU soils, spoiled by decades of intensive agriculture

practices, back to life and to help them recover their ability to provide

sustainable food and counter climate change.

5

Why soils matters

- A european perspective

This debate should be considered as a

starting point

, to follow-up on the UN

Year of Soils that has now drawn to a

close.’