On April 22, the University of Évora hosted its 2026 Soil Week event to open a discussion on how to secure a better place for soil in public and private policy. The hybrid workshop brought together 18 participants, including professionals from public administration, nature conservation institutes, and environmental agencies.

A recurring theme throughout the session was that current financial incentives do not actually reward soil health. Participants noted that the Portuguese CAP Strategic Plan is often seen as a bureaucratic tool for payments based on area rather than land protection. To fix this, the experts suggested introducing payment systems based on measurable soil improvements. It was also highlighted that while agricultural land gets most of the attention, forests and conservation areas' soil health also needs to be addressed with financial instruments.

The lack of coordination between different government institutions was also discussed. Currently, laws for water, air, and farming often operate in silos, which can lead to soil degradation. The need for a legislative audit to find and remove these contradictions was stressed. There was also a strong suggestion to start a conversation about an "agricultural licensing" system for large-scale farming to prevent land damage.

It was also highlighted that although a lot of soil data already exists, it is often hard to find and use. Centralising the data would help scientists create a regional Best Practices Manual to guide farmers and advisors on the ground. Beyond data, there is a clear need to improve soil literacy among the general public. By using the media to show that healthy soil is the foundation of water and air quality, the narrative can change from seeing soil as a private asset to valuing it as a common good.

What should be the next steps?

The priority should be to formalise the expert groups working on the new Soil Monitoring Law and ensure they have the authority to lead legal changes. There is a call for integrating soil health criteria into land management tools. Last but not least, by creating better training programs and technical guides for land managers, Portugal can ensure long-term commitment to soil stewardship.