The Role of Plant Roots in Soil Health (Policy Brief)

Summary

This policy brief, produced in the Root2Res project focuses on the following key messages:
- Soil health is critical for sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, food security and biodiversity.
- Roots play a key role in soil carbon storage, water retention, structure formation, resilience and biodiversity — yet they’re often overlooked in policy and research.
- We need targeted investment in root trait research, breeding, and field trials to unlock their full potential.
- Support policies are needed that reward living root systems — through the CAP, national soil strategies and new incentives for farmers