Healthy soil is a crucial piece of the puzzle when addressing our climate, nature and health crises, as well for the productivity of our farms.
They’re also hugely important when it comes to resolving biodiversity loss.
Our soils are teeming with life – in fact, they’re the most biodiverse medium on the planet.
Just one teaspoon of soil can contain over 10 billion microorganisms, more than all the people on the planet combined!
It’s been 75 years since soil health pioneer The Soil Association was founded as part of mission to ‘save our soils’.
This mission was built on the recognition that the health of people, planet and animals depends on protecting our soils.
Many generations later, a global movement is gathering behind the soil health cause.
Yet despite the growing awareness around the importance of soils, only 30-40% of Europe’s soils are in good condition.
In the UK alone, organic matter levels are declining, peat soils are widely damaged and soil erosion remains a critical problem.
As stewards of the land, farmers play a vital role in producing food using sustainable soil practices.
The Soil Association wants this to be incentivised, and to become the norm on farms across the UK – starting with the seven actions below.
Research shows that by adopting regenerative practices like these, it is entirely possible to halt soil degradation – and even reverse it.
Government has a big role to play here. Next spring the Soil Health Action Plan for England will be hitting the table, and organisations across the board are working hard to make sure that these seven soil-saving actions are considered in new policies.
Click here for more from the Soil Association on how to save our soils.
Healthy soil is the key to sustainable farming and a stable climate.
Soil Association’s Helen Browning on how a return to agroforestry would improve animal welfare and soil health.
Soil Association’s Natasha Collins-Daniel explains why we need to change the way we produce our food.
Soil Association’s Helen Browning explains why support is required in the shift to nature-friendly farming.
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