Our Dutch partners from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) held a face-to-face workshop on 23 April as part of the 2026 Soil Week Initiative. The discussion was focused on the knowledge gaps regarding sustainable soil use in the country.

The capacity of healthy soils to deliver multiple ecosystem services depends heavily on land use and the environmental context. It was noted that not all services can be maximised in every location. A key knowledge gap for further research is how to optimise the delivery of multiple soil services by identifying synergies and effectively managing trade-offs.

A significant knowledge translation gap remains, preventing available science from reaching users and stakeholders. Further research is needed to develop better tools that improve soil literacy and identify leverage points for the system-based transformation required to achieve healthy soils across the EU.

Generating more knowledge across all core themes - including sustainable land use, soil stewardship, the economy, and societal impact - was identified as essential for improving soil health in the Netherlands.