Teagasc joins EU Soil Mission Manifesto ahead of Soil Health Week

Teagautas has signed up to the European Commission’s Soil Mission Manifesto, reaffirming its commitment to support farmers and land managers in safeguarding soil health.

The signing coincides with Irish Soil Health Week, which runs this week, and precedes European Mission Soil Week in Dublin on 17‑18 November, organised by the European Commission and hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Teagautas.

The manifesto recognises soil as “an essential foundation for life”, noting that about 95 % of the world’s food is produced directly or indirectly from soil. It highlights the role of healthy soils in clean water and air, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, productive agriculture and the cultural landscapes on which communities and economies depend.

The EU Soil Mission states that more than 60 % of soils in the Union are in an unhealthy condition and aims to set up 100 soil “living labs” by 2030 to tackle erosion, pollution, loss of organic carbon, declining biodiversity and land degradation.

Prof. Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagautas, said the organisation will continue to raise awareness and provide research, education and practical advice to farmers, land managers, students, researchers and communities.

Teagautas staff, including Dr. Karen Daly and Dr. Veronica Nyhan, emphasised that the manifesto’s objectives align with their work on resilient farming systems, EU soil monitoring, and translating research into practical soil‑management decisions.

Source: Agriland. Photo: Javid Hashimov / Pexels.