Declining EU Soil Quality Poses Threat to Farming

European agriculture is under threat as the quality of soil worsens, particularly in eastern states.

More than 16 per cent of the European Union’s land is affected by soil degradation, but in the accession countries more than a third is affected, according to the first Soil Atlas of Europe, published last week.

This degradation can make agricultural land unsuitable for crop production, necessitating costly processes to restore its fertility and putting pressure on the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU’s controversial system of farming subsidies.
FT.com