Rough estimate of the soil protection potential of the CAP Strategic Plans over the 2023-2027 period

The primary aim of this study is to assess the potential of CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) to protect and improve the status of agricultural soils, based on the programming information they contain and the potential effects on soil health of the farm practices they support. The study analysed the CSPs of 13 Member States: Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

The approach involved several key steps. First, the study selected and defined a set of characteristics and related indicators used to quantify soil health. Then, using a classification scheme developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the JRC farming evidence library, coefficients were assigned to the farm practices to assess their potential effect on different soil health characteristics: soil organic carbon content, soil nitrogen stocks, soil water retention, soil packing density, nitrogen leaching and runoff, and soil erosion by water.

At the CSP level, the study identified the CAP interventions and good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAECs) that have the potential to contribute to soil health. Relevant farm practices were allocated to each CAP intervention and GAEC, a process referred to as 'labelling'. The study then estimated the area covered by the farm practices supported by the CSPs, and calculated the potential contribution or added value of CAP interventions and GAECs by multiplying the estimated area of each farm practice by its coefficient values and summing up to the CSP level.

The study shows that some farm practices have a significant potential to improve soil health, especially when they are supported on large areas in the CSPs, such as leaving crop residues on the soil. Depending on the soil characteristics, some farm practices are identified as particularly beneficial, such as the use of cover crops for soil nitrogen stocks, biochar for soil available water capacity, buffer strips for soil erosion by water and nitrogen leaching and runoff, and mixed cropping for soil organic carbon content.

Results highlight the potential of eco-schemes to improve soil health in most CSPs studied, but also the potential of coupled income supports on protein crops to increase soil organic carbon, soil nitrogen stocks and soil water retention capacity. GAEC 5 – ‘Tillage management’, and above all GAEC 6 – ‘Minimum soil cover to avoid bare soil in periods that are most sensitive’, are expected to play a significant role in the improvement of soil health in general. GAEC 7 – ‘Crop rotation’ contributes significantly to the increase of soil organic carbon content in all CSPs studied.

The study provides quantification for each studied Member State, which can also serve as a baseline for the next programming period. For example, the estimated potential increase in agricultural soil organic carbon content is estimated to be 0.92% per year for the CAP interventions (ranging from 0.21% in Luxembourg to 1.59% in Romania), and 0.14% per year for GAECs (between 0.03% in Czechia to 0.80% in Denmark). Similarly, the analysis indicates an estimated potential increase in agricultural soil nitrogen stocks of 2.29% per year for the CAP interventions (ranging from 0.38% in Denmark to 4.81% in Romania), and of 0.82% per year for GAEC (between 0.01% in the Netherlands to 3.06% in Italy). Results are available for each of the CSPs covered in the study.

The study's conclusions emphasise the importance of CSP interventions in promoting sustainable soil management practices and enhancing soil health.

The study provides valuable insights into the potential contributions of different farm practices and interventions to soil health, highlighting the need for targeted and effective policy decisions. It also underscores the importance of maintaining robust databases, such as the JRC's Farming Practices Evidence Library, to support policy design and evaluation with sound scientific evidence.

The study's findings align with broader strategic initiatives, such as the EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe', which aims to better quantify and improve the impact of agricultural policy on soil conditions.

Overall, the study serves as a first step towards more refined and comprehensive assessments, with recommendations for future improvements, including data on the actual uptake of CAP interventions and coefficients tailored to specific pedoclimatic conditions.