Are advisory services “fit for purpose” to support sustainable soil management? An assessment of advice in Europe

This assessment examines the extent to which advisory services are able to address current and emerging knowledge needs of practitioners (primarily farmers) about sustainable soil management ( SSM ) in Europe. The assessment is structured around the following components: the context of advice (policy, market, socio‐economic conditions, privatization of advisory systems); the challenges that SSM presents for advice; the current and emerging practitioner knowledge needs; and the existing structure and function of advisory services for SSM . The analysis reveals fragmented policy and advisory services, paralleled by the multi‐scale character of SSM and a diverse audience for advice. The challenges and opportunities this complex arena presents are analysed, and suggestions made for achieving more effective advisory services for SSM , together with examples of existing approaches.