An attempt to estimate the annual number of soil samples analysed for the private sector in the European Union

This study provides a first-order estimate of the annual number of soil samples privately commissioned in the EU-27 over the 2020–2024 period. Using a top-down method based on utilised agricultural area and land-use-specific sampling intensity parameters, results indicate a range of 1.09 million (pessimistic) to 4.35 million (optimistic) samples per year, with a central estimate of ~2.02 million. This is roughly two orders of magnitude larger than the annualised LUCAS monitoring output, highlighting the strategic value of private soil data for EU policy. The estimate should be interpreted as a market approximation intended to trigger political dialogue on the responsible mobilisation of private soil data at EU scale.