11th EU Mentoring Group: EU Soil Monitoring Law
As a well-established platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing on EU-relevant topics, the 11th EU Mentoring Group on 3 September 2026 focused on the new EU Soil Monitoring Law (SML). Particular attention was given to the evolution of EU soil policy, the requirements for monitoring soil health and condition, and the importance of harmonised soil data across EU.
The Mentoring Group benefited from the valuable expertise of PD Dr. Christopher Poeplau from the Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, who shared Germany’s experiences of the implementation of the EU SML and established soil monitoring systems, including the Agricultural Soil Inventory (BZE-LW). His practical insights on the SML were shared with national experts from the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA), the National Land Improvement Agency (ANIF), and other authorities. The presentation highlighted how comprehensive soil monitoring can provide valuable data on soil properties and land management, while supporting greenhouse gas reporting, research, regional assessments and evidence-based policy advice.
Discussions also addressed the need to strengthen the representativeness, coordination and harmonisation of soil monitoring systems. The German experience demonstrated both the challenges arising from fragmented monitoring structures and the opportunity to develop more integrated systems aligned with the requirements of the Soil Monitoring Law and the LUCAS Soil programme.
The exchange of experience provided a useful basis for considering how effective soil monitoring systems can contribute to sustainable agricultural development and support countries in aligning their policies and practices with the evolving EU legislative framework.
