The Wallonia region is offering premiums for soil analyses in private gardens as part of its online tool Sanisol. As well as testing soil pollution levels, fruit and vegetables can also be submitted for analysis. The initiative is overseen by Espace Environnement – a non-profit environmental organisation.
The soil in some vegetable gardens may be contaminated with heavy metals due to the proximity to former industrial zones. Various sites in the region have also been open deposits for waste or served as contaminated landfill.
Launched in 2021, the Sanisol online tool calculates metals and other pollutants in the soil. It then provides a series of personalised recommendations to adapt gardening activity and thereby reduce exposure to pollution. The service has existed for some time though Espace Environnement is carrying out a publicity drive as the new growing season approaches.
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To use the service, users must carry out a complete soil analysis, including pH, organic matter content, total iron content and the concentration of various heavy metals desired. This analysis can cost between €50 and €120, depending on the province.
The Walloon Region is therefore offering aid to support gardeners: a financial contribution of €50 for soil analyses carried out in home gardens and a second financial contribution of €50 for an analysis of fruit or vegetables.
The Sanisol tool is available here. The “vegetable garden” page of the Environment-Health in Wallonia portal contains a series of questions and answers as well as popularised brochures on the subject of gardening on potentially polluted soil.
