Bridging law and soil science for soil health

Soils have a critical role in delivering ecosystem services for food security, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, among others. Alarmingly, the health of soils across the globe is deteriorating rapidly. Within the European Union alone, over 60% of soils are currently considered to be in a degraded state. In this light, it is noteworthy that, compared to environmental domains such as air and water quality, soils suffer from limited legal protection. A key barrier is the challenge of bridging the gap between how soils function - with substantial uncertainties surrounding their composition, distribution, and the most effective ways to measure and interpret key properties – and the design and performance of legal frameworks. In this interdisciplinary perspective article, we explore how law and soil science can be bridged to advance in ensuring soil health. As a case study, we critically evaluate the EU’s proposed Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, aimed at protecting soils through three key pillars: soil monitoring, sustainable soil management, and contamination. We identify and discuss key challenges for bridging law and soil science, and propose novel solutions for enhanced legal protection of soil. Finally, we distill lessons learned for policymakers to strengthen soil protection efforts globally.