Activity update of the Mission Board of European Union on soil health and food
Cees Veerman
Abstract
It is not widely known that a handful of soil contains more living creatures of all kinds than there are humans living on the globe. The conditions on which all these creatures (fungi, bacteria, and worms) are able to thrive determine soil health, thereby crop production and food safety. In this contribution, I will present and clarify the concept of the Mission Board on Soil Health and Food, which serves the backgrounds and activities during the past three years. I will also explain the possible consequences for future research funding by the European Union (EU). Essentially, the work of the Mission Board focuses on: 1) the relationship between the well-developed and highly-respected discipline of Soil Science, 2) the vast body of knowledge and vested scientific authority it represents and 3) the relationship with the ongoing process of deterioration of soil health in daily use and exploitation. In other words, soil science versus soil health, is there an issue?