Vol. 14 No. 1 (2025)
Full Research Articles

Soils and ecosystem services: policy narratives and instruments for soil health in the EU

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  • Greta Winkler,
  • Luciano Pagano,
  • Daniele Vergamini,
  • Fabio Bartolini
Greta Winkler
Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, Italy
Luciano Pagano
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Italy
Daniele Vergamini
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Italy
Fabio Bartolini
Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-15466

Published 2024-09-10

Keywords

  • soil health,
  • ecosystem services,
  • policy instruments,
  • incentives,
  • Soil Monitoring Law

How to Cite

Winkler, G., Pagano, L., Vergamini, D., & Bartolini, F. (2024). Soils and ecosystem services: policy narratives and instruments for soil health in the EU. Bio-Based and Applied Economics, 14(1), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-15466

Copyright (c) 2025 Greta Winkler, Luciano Pagano, Daniele Vergamini, Fabio Bartolini

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

European soils and their status is a matter of concern that has entered the policy arena and the objective to restore soil health is part of the Soil strategy to 2030. Aim of this study is to explore the integration of the concept of soil health and the provision of soil ecosystem service by conducting i) a content analysis of EU policies and ii) a scoping review of literature over policy instruments for soil governance. Results show a focus on soil fertility, mainly soil organic matter, while services such as conservation of biodiversity or cultural heritage still appear underrepresented. Findings are reinforced by the gap in literature, providing little evidence of policy instruments contributing to soil health. A more coordinated effort among policy sectors is required to prioritize soil health in the EU; invesitgating the role of market-based instruments could complement what public policies are lacking.

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