A unifying model of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe is presented, analyzing 40 continental countries using twelve dataset-based processes to model land degradation convergence and combination pathways in European agricultural and arable environments. A Land Multi-degradation Index (LMI) was used to assess the threat of degradation drivers, revealing that up to 27%, 35%, and 22% of agricultural and arable lands are currently threatened by one, two, and three drivers of degradation, respectively. Additionally, 10–11% of pan-European agricultural/arable landscapes are cumulatively affected by four or more concurrent processes. The study highlights the complex spatial interactions of these processes, emphasizing major combinations across continental and national boundaries. The results provide policymakers with knowledge-based strategies for land degradation mitigation and other critical European sustainable development goals. Land degradation, a complex socio-environmental threat, is driven by multiple concurrent processes that have been largely unexplored in Europe. The study identifies twelve key degradation processes, including water erosion, soil pollution via pesticides, soil nutrient imbalances, and aridity, which are highly representative of agricultural productivity. The LMI analysis revealed that soil pollution via pesticides has the largest spatial footprint (52% of the cumulative agricultural area), followed by soil nutrient imbalances (39%), soil pollution via heavy metals (31%), and aridity (26%). These four processes are the most significant in terms of spatial impact, affecting over a quarter of European agriculture. The study also found that water erosion, soil compaction, and soil acidification are the least impactful processes, affecting smaller areas. The LMI classification revealed that large parts of agricultural areas are exposed to one, two, or three degradation drivers, with the highest intensity of degradation affecting 8% of agricultural land and 2% of arable land. Spain, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands were identified as major hotspots for high and very high degradation. Germany, on the other hand, was the least affected, with extensive lands not under the incidence of any degradation process. The study also explored the complex interactions of multiple degradation processes, identifying the most common combinations of four and five drivers of degradation. These combinations were found to affect significant portions of agricultural and arable lands, particularly in Spain, Italy, and Greece. The study highlights the need for integrated approaches to address land degradation, emphasizing the importance of policies such as the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mitigating land degradation and promoting sustainable development. The findings provide a comprehensive baseline for assessing land multi-degradation in Europe and support the development of targeted mitigation strategies.A unifying model of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe is presented, analyzing 40 continental countries using twelve dataset-based processes to model land degradation convergence and combination pathways in European agricultural and arable environments. A Land Multi-degradation Index (LMI) was used to assess the threat of degradation drivers, revealing that up to 27%, 35%, and 22% of agricultural and arable lands are currently threatened by one, two, and three drivers of degradation, respectively. Additionally, 10–11% of pan-European agricultural/arable landscapes are cumulatively affected by four or more concurrent processes. The study highlights the complex spatial interactions of these processes, emphasizing major combinations across continental and national boundaries. The results provide policymakers with knowledge-based strategies for land degradation mitigation and other critical European sustainable development goals. Land degradation, a complex socio-environmental threat, is driven by multiple concurrent processes that have been largely unexplored in Europe. The study identifies twelve key degradation processes, including water erosion, soil pollution via pesticides, soil nutrient imbalances, and aridity, which are highly representative of agricultural productivity. The LMI analysis revealed that soil pollution via pesticides has the largest spatial footprint (52% of the cumulative agricultural area), followed by soil nutrient imbalances (39%), soil pollution via heavy metals (31%), and aridity (26%). These four processes are the most significant in terms of spatial impact, affecting over a quarter of European agriculture. The study also found that water erosion, soil compaction, and soil acidification are the least impactful processes, affecting smaller areas. The LMI classification revealed that large parts of agricultural areas are exposed to one, two, or three degradation drivers, with the highest intensity of degradation affecting 8% of agricultural land and 2% of arable land. Spain, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands were identified as major hotspots for high and very high degradation. Germany, on the other hand, was the least affected, with extensive lands not under the incidence of any degradation process. The study also explored the complex interactions of multiple degradation processes, identifying the most common combinations of four and five drivers of degradation. These combinations were found to affect significant portions of agricultural and arable lands, particularly in Spain, Italy, and Greece. The study highlights the need for integrated approaches to address land degradation, emphasizing the importance of policies such as the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mitigating land degradation and promoting sustainable development. The findings provide a comprehensive baseline for assessing land multi-degradation in Europe and support the development of targeted mitigation strategies.