A new European study evaluates how the CAP Strategic Plans 2023–2027 can improve soil organic matter, reduce erosion, and strengthen the sustainability of agriculture.
Soil health is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture and food security in the European Union. Despite its importance, the condition of European soils is a growing concern: according to the EU Soil Observatory, around 62% of soils in the EU are not in good condition, being affected by degradation processes such as erosion, loss of organic matter, and soil compaction.
In this context, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the 2023–2027 period is a key tool for protecting and restoring agricultural soils. A recent study by the EU CAP Network titled “Rough estimate of the soil protection potential of the CAP Strategic Plans over the 2023–2027 period” attempts to assess the potential contribution of the CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) to improving soil health.
How the contribution of the CAP was evaluated
The study developed a methodology to quantitatively estimate the impact of CAP interventions on soil health. The analysis was based on six key indicators, reflecting important physical and chemical properties of soil:
- soil organic carbon content
- soil nitrogen stocks
- water retention capacity
- soil bulk density or compaction
- nitrogen losses through leaching and runoff
- soil erosion caused by water
For each agricultural practice supported by the CAP Strategic Plans, researchers used data from the JRC Farming Practices Evidence Library, a database that compiles scientific studies on the environmental impacts of agricultural practices.
The methodology followed four main steps:
- identifying CAP interventions and GAEC standards that affect soil
- matching these interventions with specific agricultural practices
- estimating the extent of implementation of these practices
- calculating the overall impact using coefficients that reflect their environmental effects
The approach was applied in 13 EU Member States in order to cover a wide range of soil and climatic conditions: Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.
Practices that contribute most to soil health
The results show that several agricultural practices have significant potential to improve soil properties, especially when implemented over large areas.
Among the practices with the greatest benefits are:
- retention of crop residues in the field, which improves soil structure and fertility
- cover crops, which help increase soil nitrogen reserves
- biochar use, which enhances water retention
- buffer strips, which reduce erosion and nutrient leaching
- mixed cropping and crop rotation, which increase soil organic carbon
Soil management practices such as reduced tillage and maintaining vegetation cover appear to contribute particularly strongly to improvements in several soil health indicators.
The role of CAP interventions
The study highlights that eco-schemes have strong potential to improve soil health, as they encourage the adoption of sustainable farming practices.
In addition, positive effects are associated with:
- Environmental and Climate-related and Other Management Commitments (ENVCLIM)
- coupled support for protein crops, which contribute to improving soil fertility
- investments in environmentally friendly agricultural practices
Mandatory Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) standards also play an important role, including:
- GAEC 5 – soil tillage management
- GAEC 6 – minimum soil cover during sensitive periods
- GAEC 7 – crop rotation
Crop rotation, in particular, is estimated to significantly contribute to increasing soil organic matter.
First quantitative results
The analysis indicates that the interventions included in the CAP Strategic Plans could lead to significant improvements in key soil health indicators. For example:
- soil organic carbon content in agricultural soils could increase by up to 1.59% annually in some Member States
- soil nitrogen stocks could also increase significantly, with some countries reaching up to 4.81% annual growth
- at the same time, there is a notable reduction in erosion and nutrient losses
However, these impacts vary considerably among countries, reflecting differences in agricultural practices, soil characteristics, and national strategies.
Conclusions and next steps
The study shows that CAP Strategic Plans can play an important role in improving the health of European agricultural soils. However, the results should be considered preliminary estimates, as they are mainly based on planned data rather than the actual implementation of measures by farmers.
For more accurate evaluations in the future, the following will be required:
- data on the actual uptake of measures
- improved monitoring of soil conditions
- further development of scientific databases and assessment tools
This research represents a first step toward creating a more comprehensive soil health monitoring system in the European Union.
Source
EU CAP Network supported by the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP