Symposium 'Soil as a basis for health'

The scientific link between soil, food and health

The disease burden of chronic lifestyle diseases costs Europe more than 700 billion euros per year. In addition to this already enormous financial pressure, the RIVM expects that the number of people with one or more chronic diseases in the Netherlands will increase sharply - from 1.5 to almost 12 million in 2050 (Public Health Future Exploration 2024).

One of the most important risk factors for chronic disease is our diet. Not only the food choices we make, but also the quality of the food plays a role in this. Research increasingly shows that the soil microbiome is closely linked to the human intestinal microbiome. In this symposium we therefore explore the connection between agricultural methods, soil vitality, food quality and human health.

What has research shown so far? What is currently being worked on? How can we apply these new insights and how do we bring them to the people? And, last but not least: how would that be financed?