Research Networks Offering Solutions to Improve Soil Health

Soil carbon content is a key factor in mitigating climate change. Through projects included in the international EJP SOIL programme and the "Catch the Carbon" initiative in Finland, we have increased our understanding of soil health and fostered research collaboration to promote climate-smart management of agricultural soils.

Nearly half of Europe’s agricultural soils contain less than 2% organic carbon. In contrast, Finnish arable soils are relatively rich in carbon. However, on mineral soils, topsoil carbon content has declined by about 0.4% per year, and the loss is even faster on peat soils, which make up approximately 11% of Finland’s cropland. This highlights the growing importance of soil research and carbon cycle research.

Soil carbon content is linked to crop yield, nutrient runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions. Farming methods, soil micro-organisms, weather conditions, and soil type all contribute to this complex system. Generating and applying new scientific knowledge is therefore essential for developing sustainable agriculture.

The EJP SOIL programme focused on the role of agricultural soils in climate change mitigation and adaptation, in collaboration with partners from 24 European countries. The research conducted between 2020 and 2025 yielded new insights into monitoring and improving soil quality, increasing carbon stocks, and supporting ecosystem services. Data produced by the EJP SOIL programme has been used when composing the EU’s proposed directive on soil health and monitoring.

Our projects within the “Catch the Carbon” programme, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, have significantly advanced understanding of soil carbon stocks and their management. These projects have generated new research on how cultivation methods affect soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, they have built extensive research and stakeholder networks that support climate-smart solutions for Finnish agriculture.

Together, these two research clusters have greatly expanded knowledge of best practices for managing arable soils. They have developed improved guidelines for maintaining soil fertility, implementing carbon farming, and promoting climate-resilient farming practices. The results have been actively shared with stakeholders through national and international webinars, workshops, and policy recommendations.

The latest research findings from EJP SOIL and “Catch the Carbon,” as well as other related projects of Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), were compiled in a synthesis report that will be published in 2025. The report offers insights for developing sustainable agriculture.

It synthetizes project results, offering a comprehensive analysis to support decision-making regarding the effects of soil amendments, crop choices, and fertilization strategies. The report also addresses environmental impacts of agriculture, highlighting the roles of organic farming and plant cover in enhancing biodiversity and yield.

The report includes visualizations of the most positive impacts of various practices on greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient runoff, soil quality, biodiversity, crop yields, and carbon accumulation.

“Understanding the importance of soil health both as a foundation for securing crop yield and a means to mitigate climate change has grown in recent years. It is crucial to take into account local conditions and to harmonize soil data across European countries. The EJP SOIL and ‘Catch the Carbon’ projects have provided valuable knowledge on improved soil management practices both in Finland and across Europe,” says Senior Researcher Johanna Leppälä, who led the project.