Soil across the globe is vanishing as wind, rain and intensive farming strip earth from our fields faster than nature can replace it – putting our food, farms and environment at risk.

Now, the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at University of Gloucestershire is stepping up to address this crisis as a key partner in EUROSION – a newly launched £10 million EU-funded research project.

Bringing together scientists, farmers, land managers, policymakers and citizen scientists across Europe and North Africa, this first-ever pan-European soil erosion monitoring network will map where, when and why soil is being lost.

This coordinated effort will help generate practical recommendations to reduce erosion and protect one of Europe's most essential natural resources.

The CCRI will work with members to co-design the network. Participants will contribute erosion data and work together to develop shared methods, consistent reporting and a clear picture of erosion across landscapes, seasons and weather events.

This information has never been more urgently needed, with soil erosion threating food production, harming nature and accelerating climate change. It occurs when topsoil is washed or blown away – a problem made worse by intensive tillage (mechanical means of preparing soil, such as ploughing), deforestation and a changing climate marked by heavier storms and harsher droughts.

Across the EU, around 3.4 tonnes of soil per hectare are lost every year from farmland and natural grassland through erosion. The economic cost is estimated at £35 billion to £63 billion annually.

Over the next five years, University of Gloucestershire researchers will lead the development and operation of the new monitoring network.

Dr Charlotte Chivers, Research Fellow at the CCRI and lead for the University's contribution to EUROSION, said: "Soil erosion is a process that affects every one of us, even if we rarely see it happening first hand. We need high-quality soil to grow our food, store carbon, clean rainwater and support wildlife, so losing too much of it is a real concern.

"We're excited to bring soil experts, farmers and citizens together to gather the evidence we need to understand exactly how water, wind and tillage each contribute to soil erosion, and where and when erosion is most likely to happen. This will guide our recommendations for farmers and policymakers on how to reduce erosion."

Dr Fern Baker, Research Fellow at the CCRI and contributor to EUROSION, said: "Current figures show that soil erosion is a serious problem, but too often we only have average estimates for large regions.

"By pooling the observations of people across Europe and Tunisia, we can produce much more precise information for specific locations, land types – such as steep slopes – and particular seasons or extreme events. This is crucial for developing stronger recommendations to farmers on how to limit erosion."

Dr Chivers added: "We don't want this network to disband when the EUROSION project ends in 2030. We are building it to last so that scientists, farmers, citizen scientists, and wider society can continue benefiting from its tools, data and insights for many years to come."