Summary
This 2025 paper, published in the Soils for Europe journal, presents a synthesis of knowledge gaps regarding European soil science and quantifies the EU's global footprint on soils through agricultural production and trade. As suggested by the title and authorship (including Mathis Wackernagel, originator of ecological footprint methodology), the work likely integrates soil health indicators with footprint accounting to highlight where European consumption and farming practices drive soil degradation internationally, identifying priority areas for improved soil governance and research.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK soil policy and farming practice, as the UK participates in European soil science networks and shares similar temperate agricultural systems. The global footprint assessment may reveal UK-specific opportunities to reduce overseas soil impacts through procurement, trade policy, and domestic land management reform.
Key measures
Knowledge gaps in soil science; global soil footprint metrics; soil impacts of EU agricultural trade and consumption
Outcomes reported
The paper identifies and synthesises knowledge gaps in European soil science and assesses the EU's global soil footprint across farming systems. It examines where European agricultural and land-use practices create soil impacts beyond EU borders.
Topic tags
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