New SHARE Handbook Sets the Standard for Soil Health Monitoring Across Europe

A New Benchmark for Soil Health Assessment and Re-Evaluation

The SOB4ES project has released the Soil Health Assessment and Re-Evaluation (SHARE) Protocols Handbook, a comprehensive new guide designed to harmonize how soil health is monitored across Europe. This landmark publication provides standardized, practical, and scientifically validated protocols for assessing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils — essential to understanding and protecting one of our most vital natural resources.

Collaborative Development Across Europe

Developed collaboratively by the SOB4ES consortium with input from external experts and the SoilProS project, the handbook combines methods for soil structure and chemistry with innovative approaches to biodiversity monitoring — including macrofauna, mesofauna, microfauna, and microbial communities. These methods were rigorously tested across nine European pedoclimatic regions, ensuring they deliver reliable, comparable, and ecologically meaningful results for a wide range of soil types and management practices.

“The SHARE Handbook is a milestone in European soil science,” says Prof. Maria J. I. Briones, Coordinator of the SOB4ES project from the University of Vigo. “For the first time, we have a unified approach that allows us to monitor soil health and biodiversity consistently across ecosystems and countries. This will empower researchers, farmers, and policymakers to make better, evidence-based decisions for the future of our soils.”

Supporting Policy, Practice, and Citizen Science

Beyond the scientific community, the SHARE Handbook is intended for farmers, land managers, policy-makers, and citizen scientists seeking to understand and improve soil health. Its accessible design encourages widespread adoption, supporting the EU’s Soil Monitoring Directive and contributing to broader environmental goals such as the EU Soil Mission and the European Green Deal.

A Practical Tool for a Sustainable Future

By offering a unified framework for soil monitoring, the SHARE Handbook provides the foundation for evidence-based management and long-term ecosystem resilience. Its protocols enable consistent data collection across land uses, helping identify patterns in soil health and biodiversity that transcend national borders — a crucial step toward sustainable soil management in Europe and beyond.

The SHARE Handbook is now available for download on the SOB4ES website.