The researcher network TerraNordica emphasises the urgency and opportunity for advancing soil health and agroecology in the Nordic region. It highlights the essential ecosystem services provided by healthy soils, the risks of continued degradation, and regionally adapted actions to support sustainable food systems.
The network has arranged a seminar, which gathered experts, researchers and stakeholders. They emphasized the need for regionally adapted frameworks that include policies and incentives, collaborative monitoring frameworks, and stakeholder engagement to support sustainable soil management.
“By embracing a regionally adapted agroecological approach, Nordic countries can lead the way in building resilient, climate-smart food systems rooted in healthy soils”, the network says in a policy brief, which provides a range of advice that can lead to better soil.
The advices also includes to develop a dynamic online dashboard where current state of soil health can be viewed, establish monitoring systems that reflect local soil types, and to fund interdisciplinary research – among more.
– Based on the discussions during within the TerraNordica network and the seminar we have identified knowledge gaps and future challenges, as well as policy constraints and opportunities for Scandinavian countries. This information is used for composing the policy brief on agroecology and soil health opportunities and challenges for Scandinavian conditions. The members of the network are enthusiastic about the established contacts, and we will continue this cooperation in coming related events, says Jannes Stolte, coordinator of the NKJ co-funded researcher network TerraNordica.
Find all policy advice and key messages from the network in the policy brief!