EU sets out first-ever soil law to protect food security and slow global heating

More than 60% of the EU’s soils are considered to be in an unhealthy state. Photograph: Guido Paradisi/Alamy

The European Commission has proposed the continent’s first soil law, intended to undo some of the damage done by intensive farming and mitigate global heating.

Amid intense opposition to proposed laws on nature restoration and curbs on pesticides, the European Commission put forward proposals in Brussels on Wednesday to revive degraded soils. Research indicates that this could help absorb carbon from the atmosphere and ensure sustainable food production.