Granada, 23/09/2011 – Criticising the ongoing deadlock in the European Council on the implementation of a Soil Directive, the IFOAM EU Group1 published its position paper on the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive2 at a three-day conference held in Granada, Spain, titled "Agro-ecological management of soils"3. The conference organised by SEAE4, bringing together experts and academics in the area of soil, reinforced the need for a coherent policy and explored several aspects and threats related to soil, along with the value of agro-ecological measures for maintaining and rehabilitating soil.

"Mediterranean soils face a number of severe threats from low organic matter content to erosion, compaction and sealing, and the picture is equally gloomy for many other soils across Europe", says Victor Gonzálvez from SEAE and board member of the IFOAM EU Group. "We simply cannot afford to let this issue linger any longer, as soil is the foundation for our future food security."

While the paper broadly welcomes the proposal directive by the European Commission, it notes serious shortcomings in the setting up of targets, unspecified levels of ambition, and lacking a holistic and ambitious approach to the management of soil. "We fear the Commission has interpreted the argument for flexibility too narrowly, thereby ironically leaving a too broad scope for inaction open," the paper argues.

Additionally, the paper calls for organic farming to receive special consideration in the Directive, and that considering its beneficial effects for the environment, it be mentioned as a soil-protective and enhancing measure.

The position paper is now available on the IFOAM EU website.

More information:

IFOAM EU Group, phone + 32-2-280 12 23, Fax: +32-2-735 73 81,

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IFOAM EU main supporters:

The IFOAM EU Group acknowledges the financial support of the European Community, Directorate-General for Environment. The sole responsibility lies with the IFOAM EU Group, and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided by IFOAM EU Group.

(1) The IFOAM EU Group represents more than 300 member organisations of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) in the EU-27, the EU accession countries and EFTA. Member organisations include: consumer, farmer and processor associations; research, education and advisory organisations; certification bodies and commercial organic companies.

(2) The Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the protection of soil (COM/2006/232) can be downloaded here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006PC0232:EN:NOT

(3) For the programme of the conference, see the website of SEAE.

(4) SEAE (Spanish Society of Organic Farming) is a non-profit association with more than 800 members, researchers, teachers, advisors, certifiers, and also traders, farmers and processors from all over Spain, working to encourage, coordinate and facilitate research, education, advice and dissemination of all aspects related to organic farming, agro-ecology and sustainable rural development.

IFOAM EU Group

Phone: +32 2 280 11 51

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/IFOAMEU

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The IFOAM EU Group is the European working level within the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. It brings together more than 300 organisations, associations and enterprises from all EU-27, EFTA and candidate countries. IFOAM´s goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture.

Read more: www.ifoam-eu.org