December 5 - World Soil Day

Soil is the source of life, the guardian of biodiversity, but it continues to be consumed and degraded at unsustainable rates. On the occasion of World Soil Day , dedicated this year to the theme "Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities " , FederBio draws attention to the importance of sustainable management of this non-renewable resource, emphasizing the direct link between soil health, food security, and the well-being of populations.

In 2024, 83.7 square kilometers of land disappeared in Italy, transformed into new concrete or asphalt surfaces, a 15.6% increase over the previous year. This is according to the latest report "Land Consumption, Territorial Dynamics and Ecosystem Services," published by ISPRA and the National Network for Environmental Protection (SNPA). The report highlights how erosion is proceeding at an alarming rate: approximately 2.7 square meters of land are lost every second, equivalent to almost 230,000 square meters per day. Net land consumption exceeded 78.5 square kilometers, the highest figure in the last decade, with serious consequences for ecosystem services.

"Although soil is a vital resource, it is being eroded day after day, putting our future at risk, " emphasizes Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio . " The fragility of this resource directly impacts human health: fertile and resilient soil can protect biodiversity, absorb excess carbon that destabilizes the climate, ensure hydrogeological stability, and allow agriculture to produce safe, high-quality food. In this context, we welcome the new European Directive on soil monitoring and resilience, which represents a decisive step forward toward the goal of soil remediation, although it must be urgently implemented by all Member States to have real effects. Despite scientific evidence of the benefits of agroecology for soil fertility, legislation remains lagging behind: while the environmental and health control system monitors the presence of synthetic chemical active ingredients for water and food, the soil, the primary receptor of substances used in conventional agriculture, is not systematically detected for the presence of molecules potentially harmful to the environment. Thus, Soil—the fundamental foundation that provides us with food every day—does not enjoy specific protection. Closing this gap is essential, because fertile and resilient soil is a necessary condition for ensuring food security and well-being.

Alongside soil consumption, we are also witnessing its progressive deterioration. The " Status of the World's Soils" report, which updates the FAO's 2015 assessment, highlights how soil health is now a major global emergency, on a par with climate and biodiversity. Erosion, loss of organic matter, poor nutrient management, pollution, salinization, biodiversity loss, and urbanization are eroding the soil's ability to produce food, retain carbon, regulate the water cycle, and sustain life. Healthy soils support ecosystem services, but in many cases, the situation continues to worsen rather than improve.

In this context, a positive development comes from data recently released by the Agrofarma Observatory, which, comparing the three-year period 2021-2023 with 2012-2014, recorded an 18% decline in the use of synthetic pesticides, a major cause of soil depletion, and a 133% increase in the use of natural active ingredients. This signals that conventional agriculture is also increasingly moving toward sustainable solutions.

The growing focus on natural active ingredients confirms the concrete benefits of agroecology in terms of protecting health, the environment, and biodiversity. In a crucial phase like the current one, the development of organic farming remains the most effective tool for reducing the use of synthetic chemicals and offering innovative solutions to the entire agricultural sector. However, strategic investments in research and innovation are needed, as well as specific regulations for the registration of biocontrol products, thus avoiding delaying access to natural alternatives that may already be available to farmers. Safeguarding soil health is a collective responsibility; it means ensuring food security and well-being for future generations. Food choices play a crucial role in this; choosing organic food is an act of responsibility and a concrete investment in a sustainable future ,” concludes Mammuccini.