Belowground life & biodiversity for a healthy soil

“It is a small world” (after all)

European Parliament- Paul-Henri Spaak -P4B001

Agenda

14h30 Welcoming speech & moderator: MEP, Franc BOGOVIČ

14h35 Opening: Alain SCRIBAN, Special Adviser, European Landowners’Organization

14h40-15h00 Keynote “Soil biodiversity: why we need to think big to care for a small world”

Prof. Dr. Gerard GOVERS, KU Leuven

15h00- 15h30 Panel 1: Driving forces that influence biodiversity in agricultural soils

• Carbon farming, Christine MÜLLER, Policy Officer, DG Climate Action- Land Use and Innovation Finance

• The key to the maintenance and protection of biodiversity lies in sustainable soil management, Galina PEYCHEVA-MITEV, Farmer, Bulgaria

Q&A 15h30-15h45

BELLEUROPA AWARD CEREMONY ***Coffee break***

16h00- 16h30 Panel 2: Policy and strategic framework for soil quality

• Soil life requires a paradigm shift in EU agricultural policy and practice, Celia NYSSENS, Policy Officer for Agriculture, EEB

• Soil biodiversity, Andrea VETTORI, Deputy Head of Unit, DG ENV- Soil Unit

• Ronald VARGAS, FAO, Secretary of the Global Soil Partnership

Q&A 16h30-16h45

• Defining, measuring and managing soil health, Yara, Koen VAN KEER

• Are biostimulants key enabling technologies to improve soil health? CropFit - Ghent University, Maaike PERNEEL

Q&A 17h45-17h45

17h55-18h00: Concluding remarks: MEP, Alvaro AMARO