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

Healthy soil provides many benefits, such as filtering water and storing carbon, but one piece of land cannot do everything at once. Therefore, it is important to make smart choices about which soil ecosystem services to prioritise in different locations. The aim is to maximise synergies, manage trade-offs, and ultimately, keep the land productive while also ensuring it stays healthy for the future.

Another big challenge is that research often stays in the lab instead of reaching farmers or city planners. Better tools are required to explain soil health in an easy-to-understand language it. Additionally, achieving healthy soil requires an understanding of the impact society has on soils.

In the future, the focus must be on creating efficient tools that turn complex data into simple advice. Both research and communication must be improved to positively impact soil health across the country.