11:54 - 20.12.2024

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December 20, Fineko/abc.az. The enormous scale of soil degradation in Europe was confirmed by recent assessment of the current state of soils in the region, conducted by the Joint Research Center, the European Commission's Science and Knowledge Service and the European Environment Agency.

ABC.AZ reports that as a whole, the conclusions of the report underline the urgency of addressing the problem of soil degradation in Europe through targeted policy measures, collaborative approaches and continuous investment in research and innovation. The report emphasizes that in the period from 2012 to 2018, more than 400 sq km of land was lost annually in the EU due to soil sealing.

In addition, about 74% of agricultural lands in the EU and the UK face excessive nitrogen intake, while vast areas are oversaturated with phosphorus. Pesticide residues and other pollutants are present in huge amounts in agricultural soils, which further exacerbates environmental problems.