The Sustainable Use of Healthy Soil as a Cornerstone of the One Health Approach: An Analysis of European Public Strategies and Market-Based Environmental Protection Tools

Soil, being a non-renewable resource, faces increasing pressure due to the burgeoning global population and its concomitant exploitation. This scenario presents a foreseeable global challenge characterized by resource scarcity. In response, the European Commission has introduced new strategic guidelines, underscoring the critical role of sustainable soil management as a prerequisite for achieving the climate and biodiversity targets set forth in the European Green Deal and the United Nations Agenda 2030. In this framework, the One Health approach is particularly pertinent. This paper aims to highlight that protecting soil health—an integral element of a comprehensive health paradigm—requires the implementation of public policies that safeguard biodiversity, ensure nutritional security, and uphold both human and animal health. These policies must also address additional goals such as enhancing employment and market competitiveness. Particular emphasis should be placed on the enforcement of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023-2027, the commencement of CAP strategic plans across the 27 EU member states, and the pivotal role of both European and national bioeconomy strategies. Moreover, it is essential to examine how legal instruments—whether hard law or soft law—can function as enablers rather than impediments in this endeavor. When effectively structured, market-based environmental protection instruments can play a significant role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices among producers and consumers alike.