Launch of the EASAC policy report on "Opportunities for soil sustainability in Europe"

Soils provide numerous essential services in terrestrial ecosystems, ranging from the support of plant growth in agriculture and forestry to moderation of flood risks, water purification, large-scale carbon storage, and support of biodiversity. However, despite soils’ essential roles, they are threatened by sealing, compaction, reductions in quality and organic-carbon content, and erosion, and insufficiently included in sustainability planning in the EU. A multidisciplinary group of European experts has examined the implications of recent scientific research for integrated policy solutions towards ensuring the sustainability of Europe’s soils, and identified many opportunities for policy-makers to safeguard this valuable resource for the benefit of the EU’s citizens.

Programme:

[12:00 light lunch available]
 

12:30– 12:40

‘The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) – who we are and what we do’ - EASAC President Professor Thierry Courvoisier

12:40 – 13:00

‘Soils study: process and results’ - Project leader Professor Wim van der Putten, Netherlands Institute of Ecology and Wageningen University and Research

13:00 – 13:15

Policy implications from EASAC’s perspective - Professor Michael Norton, Director of EASAC Environment Programme

13:15 Panel discussion with

Representative of European Commission DG ENVI, Land Use & Management Unit, D1 – Josiane Masson, Team Leader “Soil Policy”

Representative of the European Environment Agency – Dr Rainer Baritz, Project Manager “Soil Assessments”

Representative of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) – Dr Jabier Ruiz, Senior Policy Officer, Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems

Representative of COPA-COGECA - Mr Evangelos Koumentakos, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Change, Air, Soil, Waste, Emissions

13:45 Open discussion of the panel with the audience

14:00 End of event [followed by coffee]

 Register for event here.