Consultation responses

In late 2022 the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into soil health. The SSA responded with a comprehensive review of the state of soil policy in the UK.

The SSA submitted evidence to Scotland's call for evidence on the new agriculture bill: Delivering our Vision for Scottish Agriculture- Proposals for a new Agriculture Bill.

The SSA submitted evidence to Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) Call for Evidence - welcoming the early emphasis on soil and highlighting areas of concern.

The SSA with the UK Farm Soil Carbon Code Consortium submitted a response to the UK Government's call for evidence on a Green Finance Strategy, highlighting the need for a set of minimum standards in the soil carbon market and an open-access soil carbon code for new entrants into the market.

The SSA submitted a response to Defra's Nature Recovery Green Paper, highlighting the ways in which soil health is crucial to protected sites and species and the current policy and research gaps that need addressing.

The SSA submitted a response to the UK Climate Change Commission's Call for Evidence on carbon offsets, highlighting the role of soil carbon on behalf of the UK Farm Soil Carbon Consortium.

The SSA responded to DAERA's consultation on future agricultural policy proposals for Northern Ireland, including the participation in soil testing as a condition for the Resilience Payment.

The SSA responded to DAERA's consultation on a draft Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework, highlighting the importance of soil health in the framework's priorities.

The SSA responded to the Scottish Government's consultation to inform the development of agricultural policy and the replacement to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The SSA submitted a response to the House of Lords' Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on Nature-based solutions for climate change, on behalf of the UK Farm Soil Carbon Consortium.

The SSA responded to the Wales Agriculture White Paper, the next stage of the previous consultations Brexit and Our Land and Sustainable Farming and Our Land.

The SSA responded to the Red Tractor Standards 2021 Review. 

The SSA responded to the call for evidence which seeks to strengthen the government’s understanding of the role of nature based solutions, including soils, in greenhouse gas removals (GGRs). 

The SSA responded to the EFRA Committee Inquiry on Environmental Land Management and the Agricultural Transition. 

The SSA responded to Defra's Regulatory Review on the 8 Farming Rules for Water.

The SSA responded to the government’s Planning for the Future White Paper 2020 (England) that proposes reforms of the planning system to streamline and modernise the planning process.

The SSA responded to the Environment Agency’s consultation on the 2021 River Basin Management Plan ‘Guide to Challenges and Choices’. 

The SSA responded on behalf of soil health to Defra’s ELMs policy discussion document.

Soils have been formally recognised as an essential natural asset providing a range of public goods, we call for an ambitious strategy and clear mechanisms for delivery to be put in place to achieve sustainably managed soils by 2030.

The SSA responded to the Call for Evidence on the Economics of Biodiversity led by Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta.

The SSA responded to the Sustainable Farming and Our Land Welsh Farming consultation aimed at supporting Welsh farmers after Brexit.

The SSA responded to the National Food Strategy Call for Evidence aimed at improving England’s food system. 

The SSA responded to the inquiry to contribute to the sector’s net zero emissions strategy.

The SSA responded to the government’s peatland consultation.

The SSA responded to Defra’s Agricultural Tenancy consultation. 

The SSA responded to the Environment Agency’s consultation on the Draft flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy.

The SSA responded to Defra’s Resources & Waste Strategy consultation in collaboration with Dr. Lynsey Blake (Durham University). 

The SSA submitted the Science Panel’s rationale for ‘healthy soils’ as a headline indicator to the government’s consultation on the 25 Year Environment Plan.

The SSA responded to Defra’s consultation on the Environment Bill draft clauses. 

The SSA responded to Brexit and our land: Securing the future of Welsh farming consultation.

The SSA responded to the government’s Health & Harmony consultation on The future of food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit.

The SSA  responded to the government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment and convened a parliamentary event on soils in the Plan.