Soil health in European agricultural policies: findings and future perspectives

How much do Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures contribute to improving soil health in Europe? In September and October 2026, the EU CAP Network published two studies examining the potential effects of CAP 2023–2027 interventions on soil fertility, erosion and nutrient losses. The evaluations consider data from 2023, the first year of the programming period, and scientific evidence concerning the effects of the farming practices supported by the CAP.

The two studies provide evidence for assessing the effectiveness of CAP instruments in supporting sustainable agricultural land management, particularly regarding access to financial incentives and the possibility of verifying environmental outcomes.

Soil organic carbon, nitrogen and erosion: findings from the evaluations

The first study, updated on 16 September 2026, examines 13 CAP Strategic Plans, including Italy’s. The analysis covers six soil health indicators: soil organic carbon, nitrogen, water retention capacity, bulk density, nitrogen leaching and water erosion.

Based on the interventions adopted by farmers in 2023, researchers estimate a potential increase of 1.04% in soil organic carbon and 2.77% in soil nitrogen. The estimated reduction in water erosion reaches 9.39%.

The evaluation therefore makes it possible to quantify the expected environmental benefits according to farmers’ actual participation in CAP interventions. It also provides information for comparing the measures and identifying those with the greatest potential effectiveness. The estimates will serve as a reference for subsequent monitoring activities, through which changes in soil properties can be assessed over time.

The second study, published on 9 October 2026, examines another aspect of agricultural management: the environmental consequences of nitrogen and phosphorus use. Both nutrients are essential for crop growth, but excessive applications can lead to their accumulation and contribute to water pollution.

The research examines seven CAP Strategic Plans to assess which interventions can help address nutrient losses. The practices considered include cover crops and permanent grassland conservation, which act through different mechanisms. Cover crops are grown during periods when agricultural land would otherwise remain bare. Their roots absorb residual nutrients and help retain them within the agricultural system, reducing the risk of losses. Permanent vegetation cover helps limit erosion and the transport of phosphorus attached to soil particles. The study also considers organic farming, which restricts the use of synthetic mineral fertilisers and relies on crop rotations, organic inputs and biological processes to maintain soil fertility.

How CAP instruments support soil protection

The CAP 2023–2027 supports sustainable agricultural land management through three main instruments: environmental conditionality, eco-schemes and agri-environment-climate interventions under rural development. Each instrument establishes different funding arrangements and commitments.

Conditionality sets environmental requirements that farmers receiving certain CAP payments must respect. Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) include, for example, rules to prevent erosion, maintain minimum soil cover and regulate crop rotation. The requirements establish a basic level of protection, subject to the conditions, derogations and exemptions provided by the legislation.

Eco-schemes were introduced under the CAP 2023–2027 to provide financial support to farmers who voluntarily adopt or maintain environmentally and climate-friendly practices beyond mandatory requirements. They are financed through the first pillar of the CAP, which covers direct payments. Member States must allocate 25% of their direct payments budget to eco-schemes, subject to the flexibility allowed under EU legislation.

Each Member State defines eligible practices and payment rates in its CAP Strategic Plan. In Italy, for example, eco-schemes cover sustainable grassland and pasture management, maintaining vegetation cover in permanent crops, preserving olive trees of landscape value and establishing specific nectar-producing crops. Participation allows farmers to receive financial support for activities that can entail additional costs or changes to ordinary farm management.

Agri-environment-climate interventions, financed through rural development, generally require multiannual commitments and can be adapted to the needs of different territories. The measures support practices such as reduced tillage, the application of organic matter and the adoption of technologies for more accurate fertiliser use. The duration of commitments is particularly important for interventions whose environmental benefits can take several years to become apparent.

The regulatory framework has changed during the programming period. Following the revision of conditionality rules in 2024, Regulation (EU) 2025/2649, applicable since 1 January 2026, introduced further simplifications concerning obligations, checks and administrative procedures.

The amendments respond to difficulties reported by farmers in complying with certain requirements and seek to reduce the administrative burden associated with accessing financial support. Environmental evaluation remains necessary, however, to understand how the different measures contribute to soil conservation and what results they achieve during the programming period.

CAP implementation in Apulia

In Italy, interventions under the national CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 are also implemented through Regional Complements for Rural Development. Regional authorities establish the arrangements for implementing measures under their responsibility and identify priorities according to local agricultural and environmental conditions.

The Regional Complement for Rural Development of Apulia includes several interventions for preserving soil fertility and promoting sustainable agricultural land management. SRA03 supports reduced tillage techniques, which limit mechanical soil disturbance and help preserve soil structure. SRA04 concerns the application of organic matter, an important practice for maintaining soil fertility, supporting biological activity and improving water retention capacity.

The regional programme also includes SRA24, dedicated to precision farming practices, and SRA25, concerning the protection of tree crops of environmental and landscape value. In precision agriculture, sensors, monitoring systems and variable-rate application technologies allow agricultural operations to be adjusted according to soil characteristics and crop requirements. More accurate fertiliser management can reduce waste and limit the risk of nutrients unused by crops being lost to the environment.

The measures are particularly relevant to Apulia, where water scarcity, declining soil organic matter and erosion risks in certain agricultural areas pose significant challenges. However, agricultural and environmental conditions differ across the region.

INTERESH’s contribution to agricultural policy evaluation

The EU CAP Network evaluations show how the adoption of sustainable farming practices influences the environmental benefits expected from the CAP. Assessing the effects of agricultural measures also requires evidence from field experiments, particularly regarding soil fertility, resource-use efficiency and the economic sustainability of interventions.

INTERESH’s activities in Apulia will contribute to examining the effects of different soil management practices by monitoring the physical, chemical and biological properties of agricultural soils. The INTERESH Performance Metrics (IPM) framework will allow the results of the experiments to be compared and the economic implications of the proposed solutions to be assessed. Cost-benefit analyses will consider initial investments, operating expenses and potential savings in water and fertiliser use to determine the conditions under which farms can adopt the innovations.

The research will also contribute to the preparation of a Regional Action Plan for Apulia, taking account of experimental evidence, the characteristics of local farming systems and available agricultural support policies. The evaluations will help identify practices suited to local conditions and examine the technical and economic factors affecting their adoption. In relation to the CAP, the findings can provide further evidence for assessing interventions intended to conserve soil and promote sustainable agricultural resource management.

The CAP after 2027: future perspectives for soil protection

The EU CAP Network evaluations have been published at an important stage in the development of European agricultural policies. In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the CAP 2028–2034, opening discussions on financial resources, environmental priorities and support arrangements for farmers during the next programming period.

The proposal envisages greater flexibility for Member States in defining agricultural measures, including a revision of existing support instruments and environmental requirements. Soil protection, water management and biodiversity conservation remain among the objectives of the future CAP, although funding arrangements and farmers’ obligations are still under negotiation.

The studies published in 2026 provide useful evidence for future decisions. They identify farming practices with greater potential benefits for soil health and highlight the importance of farmer participation. The effectiveness of financial incentives also depends on whether farms can afford the costs of the required practices and maintain them over time.

Discussions on the CAP 2028–2034 will therefore need to consider scientific evidence on the effects of farming practices and the economic conditions that support their adoption. The results of the current programming period can contribute to the development of measures better suited to farmers’ needs and the European Union’s soil protection objectives.