Degraded soils : Europe is losing more than €50 billion annually

By Prof. Mogens H. Greve, Head of the Soil Section at the Institute of Agro Ecology, Aarhus/Denmark & Dr. Tomislav Hengl of The OpenGeoHub Foundation, Doorwerth/Netherlands

Published on

28/07/2026 - 18:04 GMT+2

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews.

Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most polarising technologies of our time. Concerns about job losses, misinformation, and opaque algorithms shaping society are both real and justified. Yet amid this broader anxiety, one area where AI’s promise is unmistakably positive lies beneath our feet: Europe’s soils. Healthy soil is not just an environmental concern—it is the foundation of food security. More resilient soils mean more stable harvests, reduced dependence on imported fertilisers, and stronger local food systems.