*Surviving repeated threats of being buried alive, the EU’s first ever law on soil health was finally adopted last month. And while environmental groups have called out “*severe shortcomings” in the final text of the Soil Monitoring Law, it is a significant step in the right direction on the journey towards healthy soils in Europe. Whether it will make a meaningful impact on the crisis of soil degradation remains to be seen, and will depend on rigorous enforcement, as well as ambitious implementation by Member States.

Far from the protracted negotiations in Brussels, in Europe’s territories local communities are working on the ground to protect the soil. Ladislav Luc reports from Serbia on a citizen science project that offers an intriguing entry point for farmers and young people to learn about the importance of soil health.

Excavating soil samples for texture and aggregate analysis. Photo: Ladislav Luc

In the territory of Vojvodina, Serbia, farmers and young people are stepping up to care for the soil. “Guardians of Soil Health” is a citizen science project that teaches participants how to monitor key indicators of soil health, such as organic matter decomposition, pH value, moisture, structure, texture, and microbial activity. Run by the BioSense Institute in Novi Sad from 2024 to 2025, the goal of the project is to generate data that will support evidence-based decision-making in the field of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Colorimetric determination of pH and the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil. Photo: Ladislav Luc

Investing in the future

Healthy soils, as the largest terrestrial ecosystem in the EU, support many economic sectors, while land degradation costs the European Union tens of billions of euros each year. Proper land management that preserves soil health and biodiversity increases economic profitability and reduces the costs of fertilisers needed to maintain yields. If current trends in land degradation were halted and reversed, it could bring up to €1.2 trillion in annual benefits globally (EU Soil Strategy for 2030). The cost of inaction against land degradation in Europe is six times higher than the cost of taking action. In addition to financial losses, it would also mean loss of fertility, threats to global food security, and deterioration of the quality and nutritional value of agricultural products.

More than 95% of our food comes directly or indirectly from the soil, making it one of humanity’s most important resources. However, soil is not an inexhaustible resource. It forms extremely slowly but can be destroyed very quickly. Estimates show that about 33% of the world’s soil is already degraded, while approximately 12 million hectares of fertile land – an area almost equal to the territory of Serbia – are lost each year. In the past 50 years, the amount of arable land per capita has been cut in half. Farmers are on the front line of protecting this vital resource. This soil feeds us, our families, and our communities, while also preserving nature and ecosystems. Managing soil today means much more than merely combatting erosion and loss of fertility – it entails taking active care of soil health for future generations.

That is why the European Union has set ambitious goals in the field of soil and climate protection: to combat desertification and to restore degraded land, including areas affected by droughts and floods, with the aim of achieving a land degradation–neutral world (Sustainable Development Goal 15.3).

Significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems, including soils, need to be restored. The EU aims to achieve a net removal of 310 million tons of CO₂ annually in the land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector. The goal is to achieve good ecological and chemical status of surface and groundwater by 2027, and by 2030 to reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, as well as the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50%, including a reduction in the use of more hazardous pesticides. The EU also strives for significant progress in the remediation of contaminated sites and the achievement of “no net land take,” meaning that new construction should no longer reduce areas of fertile soil. It is setting broader environmental goals too: reducing pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to people and nature, creating a toxic-free environment, and achieving climate neutrality by 2035 on land, and by 2050 for society as a whole, which should be fully resilient to climate change. Investing in soil health means investing in the future – in safe food, clean air, healthy water, and a stable climate.

Cylinder extraction, experiment for measuring soil bulk density. Photo Andrijana Andric

Time to get our hands dirty

This is where projects like “Guardians of Soil Health” come in: Farmers and citizens learn how to recognise changes in the soil and respond to them using simple, accessible, and effective methods. Through a series of practical, scientifically grounded experiments, participants assess the biological activity, fertility, and structure of the soil, thereby gaining a better understanding of regenerative processes and contributing to the sustainable management of local land.

The experiments include monitoring the decomposition of a cotton cloth or tea bags in the soil, earthworm abundance, analysis of soil texture and aggregates, measurement of bulk density, pH value, and the content of key nutrients. These simple experiments enable farmers and citizens to independently monitor soil conditions and the effects of their practices.

The project demonstrates how local communities can actively contribute to achieving the goals of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, particularly in the areas of biodiversity conservation and soil ecosystem regeneration.

Setting up an experiment by burying two types of tea bags. Photo: Ladislav Luc

One of the participants, Ivan Sudarević, a young farmer from Vojvodina, says that through the project, in addition to learning how important soil fertility and regeneration are for successful agricultural production in the future, he also discovered new methods for practically assessing soil conditions in the field. Through simple experiments, Ivan found that he could independently evaluate the biological activity of his soil and understand the changes occurring within it.

“These experiments showed me that you don’t need a lot of money to understand soil fertility. Just a bit of curiosity and willingness, and you can immediately see how healthy your soil is,” Sudarević emphasises, adding that such methods should become part of the everyday practice of every farmer who wants to preserve the fertility of their land.

Experiment with comparison of a cloth buried in June and at the time of excavation in September. Photo: Ladislav Luc

Citizen science bridges gaps

Within the “Guardians of Soil Health” project, researchers play an important role in connecting science and practice, bringing farmers closer to understanding the importance of monitoring soil conditions. We spoke with Kristina Kalkan and Jelena Jović, research associates at the BioSense Institute in Novi Sad, about the project:

How would you explain the importance of monitoring soil health to farmers?

Although the Law on Agricultural Land requires checking basic fertility parameters every five years (four in organic production), Serbia still lacks systematic soil quality monitoring. Larger producers conduct regular checks, while smaller ones do so less often due to costs and insufficient awareness.

Citizen science bridges this gap – by involving farmers and young people in monitoring key soil health indicators, broader coverage is achieved and awareness of soil importance is raised. The goal of the “Guardians of Soil Health” project is to involve as many citizens as possible in monitoring and jointly analysing data with BioSens Institute researchers, using non-laboratory, standardised, inexpensive, and quick methods. The project also contributes to education on sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation, with the participation of farmers, schools, and preschool institutions.

What have been the most interesting or useful results obtained so far in the project?

One of the project’s tasks was to compare and verify the results obtained using citizen science methods with laboratory analyses, which serve as a control and confirmation. We are currently awaiting the results of these tests. The most interesting part was observing participants’ reactions to unexpected results. Some collected their own samples in parallel, and we are particularly pleased that their findings confirmed the results from the citizen science methods. Based on our experience so far, participants found the methods for determining the chemical and biological characteristics of the soil the most engaging.

Soil sampling. Photo Andrijana Andric

How can citizen science contribute to the improvement of agricultural practices?

Farmers often think short-term, seeking higher yields, which can reduce productivity in the long run. Citizen science transforms farmers into active participants in research and land management, leading to more sustainable and innovative agriculture. Regular monitoring of key soil indicators allows early detection of degradation, erosion, pollution, or nutrient deficiencies, enabling farmers to take timely measures. Through education and returning the land into their hands, the goal is to encourage critical thinking and better decision-making in the future.

How motivated are young people and farmers to participate in such experiments, and what has been their experience?

Participant motivation in our two-year project has varied, but there are clear indicators of lasting interest among both young people and farmers. In the first year alone, over 150 people registered, about 40% of whom were young people aged 10 – 18, while the rest were young farmers between 25 and 35 years old. The younger participants showed a high level of curiosity and enthusiasm, especially during field workshops and practical measurements. Farmers tend to have more concrete expectations and are often sceptical of new methods, so laboratory verification of citizen science data is key to increasing their engagement and willingness to apply the knowledge they acquire.

What future do you see for projects that connect citizens and researchers in the field of soil and biodiversity protection?

Projects that link citizen science with scientific research have enormous potential to change the way natural resources are managed. They enable the collection of large amounts of data and facilitate the application of results in practice and land protection policies, thanks to the early involvement of citizens. This approach brings science closer to society. With technological advancements, further development is expected through digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence, but challenges remain in ensuring data quality and keeping participants motivated to stay active.

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