Global scientific collaboration under strain — implications for soil biodiversity research and conservation

Abstract

The foundational role that soils play in sustaining terrestrial ecosystems is unequivocal: soils harbor an astonishing diversity of life (Anthony et al. 2023) that underpins nutrient cycling, water regulation, food production, climate regulation, and myriad ecosystem services essential to human well-being and planetary health (Eisenhauer et al. 2026). Yet, while soil biodiversity arguably comprises one of the largest reservoirs of biological diversity on Earth, it remains chronically under-represented in global policy and conservation frameworks despite growing scientific evidence of its ecological importance (Guerra et al. 2021).
In this context, recent geopolitical developments described in a Nature News report (20 January 2026; Castelvecchi & Masood 2026) — in which the United States announced its intention to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including key scientific and environmental bodies — carry profound implications for the global science infrastructure that supports research on soil biodiversity and its conservation.
At the same time, other regions are moving in the opposite direction. The Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience („Soil Monitoring Law“) by the European Union signals an emerging model in which soil biodiversity monitoring becomes embedded in binding regulatory frameworks. This contrast underscores a central question for the soil biodiversity community: how can we build collaborative and monitoring systems that remain robust and effective despite political volatility?