Healthy soils are the foundation of life—yet pesticides are reshaping them in dangerous ways.
A landmark study across 26 European countries shows pesticide residues as the second biggest driver of soil biodiversity loss, harming beneficial fungi and nematodes while boosting pathogens.
Researchers stress the urgent need for EU risk assessments to better capture the broader ecological impact of pesticides and adopt a truly holistic approach. This echoes repeated scientific warnings against weakening authorisation processes for harmful pesticides.
Protecting soil life means protecting our future. It’s time for policies that put ecosystems, farmers, and communities first.
