The emphasis Wednesday's State Council meeting placed on soil pollution, overdue to some extent, highlights an often-neglected potential threat to the national food chain and people's health. The forcible measures it promised in response are a welcome attempt to address the problem.

The meeting, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, vowed to launch a national campaign to protect the nation's soil from pollution and accelerate efforts to establish a soil protection mechanism. It also vowed to accelerate the establishment of a nationwide network for soil quality investigation, monitoring and protection.

Such actions are essential, as greater efforts are needed to guarantee the quality of agricultural products and build a healthy living environment.