SOILS, WHERE FOOD BEGINS
- 10.00 – 10.05 Welcoming and introductory remarks
Kristel Vandenbroek, VLACO, Chair of ECN - 10.05 – 10.25 Unlocking the potential of recycled organic waste for soil health
Alberto Confalonieri, CIC, Chair of ECN TG SOM - 10.25 – 10.55 The role of organic fertilisers in sustainable soil management: benefits and risks
Rainer Baritz, European Environmental Agency EEA - 10.55 – 11.25 Compost makes soils more fertile: is this scientifically proven?
Dennis Konnerup, Aarhus University - 11.25 – 11.30 Closing remarks
Kristel Vandenbroek, VLACO, Chair of ECN
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are glad to invite you to join the ECN and VLACO joint webinar to celebrate the World Soil Day on 5th December from 10h to 11h 30. This year’s event is particularly timely and relevant, since the European Commission is working on the Soil Health Law proposal, which will be adopted in early 2023.
The agricultural soil quality is decreasing across Europe. Maintaining and Increasing Soil Organic Matter (SOM) can help mitigate soil degradation by enhancing soil biodiversity and reducing soil erosion as well as compaction. SOM also delivers soil functions of (for example) water storage, water filtering and nutrient retention, thus supporting healthy crops.
To highlight this, our line-up of speakers includes Alberto Confalonieri, chair of ECN task group on soil and organic matter. During his speech, he will launch ECN latest paper focusing on the importance of recycled organic soil improvers in the frame of the upcoming Soil Health Law, accompanying ECN position with data gathered from several long-term field trials conducted all over Europe.
Rainer Baritz from the European Environment Agency (EEA) has accepted ECN and VLACO invitation to join the meeting, where he will provide more detailed insights on the EEA report “Soil monitoring in Europe - Indicators and thresholds for soil health assessments”, also stressing the potential of organic fertilisers in sustainable soil management.
To conclude, Dennis Konnerup from Aarhus University, will present the outcomes of the SOILCOM project co-funded by the North Sea Region Program. The project stimulates the production of compost products for specific uses, as economically and environmentally effective soil improvers. The long-term effect of SOILCOM is to preserve and protect the environment by having positive impacts on soil quality, system resilience, soil carbon storage and reduced pesticide use.
We would be very happy to welcome you to join our webinar for the interesting lectures, with entertaining Q&A sessions preceding and following them.
At this link you can register to secure your participation. Please be aware that the webinar will be recorded and by registering you agree to it.
We look forward to having you celebrating with us this important day!