Danish stakeholders' focus on soil health
New research from Aarhus University reveals how farmers, researchers, and policymakers perceive challenges and solutions to ensure healthier soils in Denmark.

The soil beneath our feet is more than just a seedbed for crops—it is a crucial resource for the environment, climate, and, not least, our future food supply. But what does it take to maintain and improve soil health in Denmark?
New research from Aarhus University provides insight into Danish stakeholders' perspectives on "soil health" and the challenges that hinder sustainable soil management. The study is based on seven extensive surveys among farmers, advisors, policymakers, and researchers.
What is soil health?
Soil health is a widely debated topic and concept. According to the research, it is scientifically defined as the soil's ability to support ecosystem services, biodiversity, and productivity. However, understandings differ:
- Researchers often view soil health as a broad concept that also includes environmental services such as carbon storage and nutrient cycling.
- Farmers and advisors primarily associate it with soil fertility in terms of crop growth conditions and yield.
The lack of a shared understanding creates challenges for implementing sustainable practices, the study shows.
Fact box: Key findings from the research
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The biggest challenges for Danish soil
The study identifies three main challenges for sustainable soil management in Denmark:
- Loss of organic matter in the soil: The soil's carbon content is crucial for its structure and fertility, but many Danish soils lack organic material.
- Soil compaction: The use of heavy machinery, especially on wet soils, compacts the soil, reducing its ability to drain water and retain moisture and nutrients.
- Nutrient utilization: Efficient management of nitrogen and phosphorus is necessary to balance environmental concerns and agricultural productivity.
The research also highlights that climate change and economic constraints exacerbate all three issues.
Barriers and solutions
Why is it so difficult to implement sustainable solutions? According to the research, several barriers exist:
- Economy: Farmers fear that sustainable practices will reduce their yields or require expensive investments in new equipment.
- Lack of knowledge and dialogue: Research findings do not always reach farmers, and there is a lack of practical guidance on how to implement new methods.
- Political action: Stakeholders call for better regulation, such as restrictions on heavy machinery use to prevent soil compaction.
One solution, according to researchers, could be more co-creative research and the use of demonstration projects where farmers are actively involved in developing solutions.
What can we learn from the study?
The study from Aarhus University is not just a Danish investigation but part of a broader European effort to ensure sustainable soil management under the EU's A Soil Deal for Europe. It shows how different stakeholder groups can collaborate to find solutions while also emphasizing the importance of bridging the knowledge gap between research and practice.
What’s next?
According to the researchers, the future of Danish soils depends on how we address the challenges mentioned above. To meet the goals of healthy soils by 2050, political will, economic incentives, and close collaboration between research and practice is required.
The study was conducted by researchers at Aarhus University as part of the EU-funded projects EJP SOIL and PREPSOIL.
ITEM | CONTENT AND PURPOSE |
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Collaborators | Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University |
External funding | The research was financially supported by the European Joint Programme for Soil (EJP SOIL) project (grant agreement no. 862695) and the Preparing for the ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ Mission (PREPSOIL) project (grant agreement no. 101070045) under the EU Horizon programme. |
Conflict of interest | None |
Link to the scientific article | The publication "Soil Health and challenges to sustainable soil management in Denmark: Stakeholder Perceptions" is published in "European Journal of Soil Science." It is written by Mansonia Pulido-Moncada, Martin Hvarregaard Thorsøe, Jorge F. Miranda-Vélez, Morten Graversgaard, and Lars J. Munkholm. |
Contact information | Professor Lars J. Munkholm, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University. Tel.: 25152716 or mail: lars.munkholm@agro.au.dk |