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

The European Science Advisory Council (EASAC) will launch a policy report on  'Opportunities for soil sustainability in Europe' on 26 September in Brussels, Belgium.

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 ‘The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) – who we are and what we do’
 EASAC President Professor Thierry Courvoisier
 
‘Soils study: process and results’
Project leader Professor Wim van der Putten, Netherlands Institute of Ecology and
Wageningen University and Research
 
Policy implications from EASAC’s perspective
Professor Michael Norton, Director of EASAC Environment Programme

13:15 Panel discussion with
 
Member of Parliament (European Greens) – to be confirmed
Representative of European Commission DG ENVI, Directorate D “Natural Capital” – to be confirmed
Representative of COPA-COGECA – to be confirmed
Representative of the European Environmental Agency – to be confirmed

13:45 Open discussion of the panel with the audience

14:00 End of event [followed by coffee]
 
Further inputs are awaiting confirmation.

Register for event here.

For updates on the programme, please use the following link: https://easac.eu/meetings-events/details/launch-of-the-easac-policy-report-on-opportunities-for-soil-sustainability-in-europe/