The Week in Soil

Our weekly blog features the main scientific, political and cultural soil-related stories of interest from across the web over the previous seven days, available on our website and through our Twitter account every Friday morning.

04 October 2024

Europe’s soil health emergency
New crop breeding legislation
The link between cows and soil carbon
The most in-depth topsoil research ever
Rethinking weeds through art

27 September 2024

One of England’s worst harvests on record
EUOrganic farming targets
Sustainable Food Trust government paper
Links between soil pollution and heart disease
Landmark art exhibition on soil

20 September 2024

The UK’s first special envoy for nature
Longitudinal peatlands research
Climate change and soil moisture droughts
Public perceptions of regenerative farming
Fermentation composting for soil health

13 September 2024

The OEP soil management report
Wales’ natural resources policy
New EFRA Select Committee Chair
Listening to the soil
Cycling for soils

06 September 2024

Nature-friendly farming budget cut
Soil Nutrient Health Scheme deadline
Building food system resilience
Michelin Stars and Soil
Soil video game

30 August 2024

Scotland’s nature funding
Sainsbury’s agroforestry commitment
Carbon credit sales
Lunar water
Glass soil

23 August 2024

SFI offer
Future Farm Resilience Programme
Soil Nutrient Health Scheme
Regenerative survey
The sound of soil

16 August 2024

Impact of ELMs
Embracing Nature report
Regenerative and mental health
Mycelium and soil health
Lunar soil

09 August 2024

SFI update
MP training scheme
Natural England Report
Regenerative vineyard
Co-op peat funding

02 August 2024

Environmental Improvement Plan review
London Climate Resilience Review
Co-op Future Farming Fund
Local pulse production
Common Ground UK premier

12 July 2024

Labour’s first week
UNESCO warning
Glastonbury’s soil
Soil monitoring technology
Subsoil research

05 July 2024

UK Election Week
Groundswell
Soil pH
Freshwater Ecosystems
Six Inches of Soil

28 June 2024

Soil Nutrient Health Scheme
LUNZ
Groundswell 2024
Soil Farmer of the Year
Denmark emissions tax

21 June 2024

Party manifestos
Scotland’s farming support scheme
EU Soil Monitoring Law
Pesticide use
#RestoreNatureNow

14 June 2024

Manifesto pledges
Soil powered battery
Isle of Rum earthworms
Moon soil samples
Soil phosphorus

07 June 2024

Farming budget
Scottish peatlands
European Soil Academy
Whisky sustainability programme
Glyphosate and soil health

24 May 2024

SFI update
SNHS registration
FIRNS projects announced
AHDB baselining project
Peatland restoration project

17 May 2024

Farm to Fork Summit
Sustainable Farming Scheme delay
New SFI figures
Ocado demonstration farms
Fish based fertiliser

10 May 2024

Fall in farmer confidence
Water quality targets
Support for regenerative farming
Pre-historic soil microbes
Worm dancing

03 May 2024

Farming budgets
Food price rises
Soil microbes
Six Inches of Soil
#NoMowMay

26 April 2024

Soil Health inquiry
Green Finance Institute report
Water pollution
Food price rises
Peatland re-wetting

19 April 2024

Farming Recovery Fund
River Wye Action Plan
UK Invertebrate of the Year
Sugar and soil
Soil inorganic carbon

12 April 2024

Farming Recovery Fund
River Wye Action Plan
UK Invertebrate of the Year
Sugar and soil
Soil inorganic carbon

05 April 2024

Soil Health Inquiry
SFI cap
England Ecosystem Survey
Nature markets consultation
Universal Basic Income

22 March 2024

ELMs and food security
Nature Markets Framework
Farming Rules for Water
Rewilding carbon sequestration
Making Friends with Molluscs

15 March 2024

EU Soil Monitoring Law
Greener Farms Commitment dropped
Stop Killing our Rivers campaign
Innocent smoothie campaign
Lloyds funding for nature

08 March 2024

Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme protests
Red Tractor environmental modules
Subsidising native forests
Soil Benchmark free trial
Professor Pete Smith on soil health

01 March 2024

Sunak on Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme
Funding for flood prevention measures
Impact of flooding
Soil Farmer of the Year
Counting the Earth podcast

23 February 2024

Defra’s SFI update
Environment Agency Chair on soil health
Changes to the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme
Red Tractor Review
EU carbon removal certification

16 February 2024

Defra’s SFI uptake
Biodiversity Net Gain rules
Direct payments to remain in Scotland
Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme
Microplastics in soils

09 February 2024

Legal action over Farming Rules for Water
Suggestion of SFI cap
Regulatory gap post cross compliance
New funding for lowland peat soils
Scotland’s peatland restoration project

02 February 2024

Biodiversity Net Gain delay
Investment in regenerative technologies
Contaminated soil landslide
Microsoft’s soil carbon credit deal
Six Inches of Soil tour

26 January 2024

The future of fertilisers use report
Get Fair About Farming debate
Soils’ carbon storage abilities
Cornwall soil lab
Protecting Our Roots project

19 January 2024

Land Use for Net Zero Hub
Environmental Improvement Plan shortfall
Fraudulent soil samples
Carbon accounting tools
Soil health and national security

12 January 2024

Soil at the Oxford farming conferences
Updates to ELMs
Delay to Land Use Framework
Soil degradation and flooding
Soil carbon markets

22 December 2023

Scotland’s rural budget cuts
Extra £4 billion required for agricultural budget
Soil missing from COP28 declaration
Welsh government's objection to energy park
Bristol contaminated soil

15 December 2023

Private investment in nature scheme
Soil Nutrient Health Scheme
Reaction to EFRA report
Regenerative funding framework
Champion soil farmer

08 December 2023

EFRA committee soil health report
World Soil Day
COP28
Agricarbon investment
Bristol Living Soil

01 December 2023

COP28
Government support for nature
WWF report
Soils’ role in natural flood management
Ecosystem Marketplace report

24 November 2023

UK Chancellor’s Autumn statement
Greener Farms Commitment
New woodlands and soils
European Mission Soil Week
Soil relocation

17 November 2023

New UK Environment Secretary
False soil samples
Soil monitoring market
Regenerative flour
Lunar soils

10 November 2023

Sustainable horticulture
King’s speech
FAO report
‘Big Soils Stocktake’
Wildfires and soils

03 November 2023

Government nature commitment
Red Tractor update
#COPsoil
Impact of flooding
Soil organic carbon

27 October 2023

SFI payments
Storm Babel
World Food Forum
Future crops
Soil microbes and diamonds

20 October 2023

Red tractor criticism
Nature credit markets
New regenerative programmes
Peat-free soil blocks
#WorldWormDay

13 October 2023

Labour’s green agenda
UK Soils Awareness Week
Soil monitoring technology
Ancient genetic pathways
Carbon credit markets

06 October 2023

Scotland’s Agriculture bill
Value of earthworms
Soil monitoring technology
Monoculture tree planting
Human connections to soil

22 September 2023

SFI applications open
Unsubstantiated regenerative claims
Maize harvest
Nitrogen use efficiency

15 September 2023

Support for buying British produce
Multinationals trialling regenerative agriculture
Benefits of cover cropping
Lady Eve Balfour
#IGrowYourFood day

08 September 2023

‘Urgent action’ needed on soil health policy
Soil health’s relation to human health
Agroforestry show
Survey reveals farmers’ concerns
Circular dining

01 September 2023

SFI applications
Peatland projects
Resilient blackcurrants
Agroecology for Africa
Soil microbes affected by heat

25 August 2023

SFI applications
Peatland projects
Resilient blackcurrants
Agroecology for Africa
Soil microbes affected by heat

14 August 2023

Wet weather impacts
England Ecosystem Project
Soil species-rich habitat
Soil in climate strategies
Managing an allotment

04 August 2023

House of Lords protecting land
Climate adaptation plan
Reduced fertiliser increasing crops
Supermarket environmental pricing
Organic farming

28 July 2023

NFU on Wales farm scheme
COP28 on land-use
Quarry and ancient soils
Pesticides and soil biodiversity
Livestock emissions and net zero

21 July 2023

Defra report on UK agriculture
Farming industrial strategy
Welsh views on new farming scheme
US invests in global soil scheme
EU drought

14 July 2023

Polluter pays fines
Farming Rules for Water
SFI economic benefits
EU audit of soil policies
Declining insect populations

07 July 2023

Local Nature Recovery Strategies
Farming Innovation Competition
River campaign
EU Soil Law
EU Sustainable Food Law

30 June 2023

Defra measures for peat
£4.4bn for nature-friendly farming
Slow decarbonising farming
Scottish farm subsidies to include soil testing
Groundswell 2023

23 June 2023

Defra’s updated SFI
Court review of food strategy
EU Nature Law progress
Food systems and climate
Warming soils store less carbon

16 June 2023

Defra new SFI standards
England’s biodiversity targets
Drought, the next pandemic
Businesses want EU nature law
Framework for England’s soil health

09 June 2023

Global Farm Metric
NFU backs new global warming measure
EU concern over pesticides
Regenerative agriculture measure
Less insects on farm soils

02 June 2023

Decline in farm incomes
Defra funds farm resilience
Job losses for livestock farms
EU votes down nature law
Conservation Basic Income

26 May 2023

Defra support tenant farms
Scottish govt food security
Daera ammonia emissions
Bioenergy research
Accessible soil data

19 May 2023

Farm to Fork Summit
Farmer confidence
Potential soil import ban
Soil health app
Pesticides and bird decline

12 May 2023

Govt invests in fertiliser
Unfair funding for Scottish farms
Soil Health Inquiry
Spanish drought
Soil health benchmarks

05 May 2023

WWF agriculture emissions plan
River pollution election issue
Horticulture strategy scrapped
Livestock profits
Biden backs climate-smart agriculture

28 April 2023

Climate activists protest
Calls for Natural England overhaul
Govt supporting biochar
Banned pesticides sold to Brazil
Regulating natural capital markets

21 April 2023

Systemic problems with ELMS
Fenland soils
Low soil moisture in Spain
Critical minerals in UK soil
Sustainable fashion

14 April 2023

Microplastics in UK soils
Environment Agency strike
UK soils nutrient deficiencies
Potato innovation programme
Sounds of soil research

07 April 2023

Green Finance Strategy
LEAF certification for Aldi UK
Soil Health Industry Platform
Compost benefits
Acidic UK soils

31 March 2023

Peat-ban delay
Green Finance for farming
Funds for farming tech
Farming impact on air pollution
Moon soil

24 March 2023

UN IPCC climate report
Nature charities call for action
Ukraine war impacting soils
Drought in France affecting farms
Soil health computer game

17 March 2023

Phosphorus shortages
Contaminated soil fine
Dutch farmers protest
Wildfarmed regenerative tour
Pavements for soil

10 March 2023

Businesses support environmental protections
Europe winter drought
EU pesticide reductions stalled
Farm environmental data
Small-holdings and post-Brexit farm

03 March 2023

Businesses support environmental protections
Europe winter drought
EU pesticide reductions stalled
Farm environmental data
Small-holdings and post-Brexit farm

24 February 2023

NFU Conference
Greenwashing business claims
Coffee and climate change
Biochar supports soil carbon
Soil carbon sequestration

17 February 2023

Soil emissions in Northern Ireland
EU soil BENCHMARKS project
Nextdoor Nature programme
Global grassland Soil Organic Carbon
EU pesticide reduction targets

10 February 2023

Farmers' opinion
Sustainable Management
EU Farm to Fork division
EU organic farming
Car pollutions reduces soil carbon

03 February 2023

Defra reduce soil target
Royal Society on land-use
New soil amendments
Heritage cereals research
Soil board game

27 January 2023

Clarity on Defra farm subsidies
Food, farming and nature consensus
Fungi biotechnology
Raise the pulse
Soil organisms in parks

20 January 2023

England Envt Targets
EU soil indicator
Soil and gut health
Soil carbon calculations
Soil microbes and climate change

13 January 2023

Global Farm Metric framework
Soil biodiversity policies
London rewilding with horses
Crop mixtures help soils
First Food Diversity Day

06 January 2023

New SFI payment
Low SFI uptake
Soil Health Action Plan
Dead bodies used in compost
Organic matter helps soils hold nitrogen

23 December 2022

Livestock river pollution
UK agricultural land use
Earthworms decline
Brussel sprouts
Dark chocolate, soils and heavy metals

16 December 2022

Land Use Framework
Clarity on ELMS
COP15
Inquiry into soil health
US soil erosion

09 December 2022

World Soil Day
Soil in COP15
UK Farm Soil Carbon report
Plant your pants campaign
Cycling for soil

02 December 2022

Nature key to food security
Nitrogen pollution from farms
US Farm Bill
COP27 agreement
Less grazing improving soils

25 November 2022

Environment targets
Fertiliser profits rise
Soil carbon in Kenya
UNEP Peatland Report
Cycling for Soils

18 November 2022

Future of ELMS
COP27 on soil
EU law on carbon removal
Rewarding organic farming
Sustainable rice

11 November 2022

COP27 and soils
WWF Basket Report
Soil carbon market myths
Crises drive regen transition
Growing food in Mars soil

04 November 2022

Fast-track nature farm reforms
Soils, farming and the climate report
ELMS protect water from soil
Compostable packaging not composting
Martian soil samples

28 October 2022

New Defra ministers
Soil carbon schemes
UK crop yields and climate change
Microplastics in Soil- UN reports
New technologies for soil health

21 October 2022

Drought persisting to 2023
Tenant farmers Review
Natural England chair on ELMS
WWF on protecting nature
Good Food Good Farming march

14 October 2022

UK Soils Awareness Week
Good Food Good Farming March
European Environment Agency on nitrogen
Pesticides in soils impact ancient buried metals
Economics of agroecological transition

07 October 2022

Conservative Party conference
George Eustice argues for ELMs
Welsh Agriculture Bill
EU consulting on Soil Health Law
UK Soils Awareness Week

30 September 2022

Concerns for ELMS
$1.9 trillion biodiversity loss-risk
Soil health in US farm bill
World Soil Day 2023
Soil moisture and crop yields

23 September 2022

Organic September
GMOs in Argentina
US sewage sludge
Soil health and potatoes
Rock dust and peat soils

16 September 2022

Dry soils and winter food shortages
Climate change and multi-breadbasket failures
Task force on construction and soil
Warm soils help crop pests
Perennial wheats and soil health

09 September 2022

New Defra secretary
Regenerative farming resilience
Dry soils impact railways
Forever chemicals in groundwater
Property and sustainable food

02 September 2022

Ban peat for gardening by 2024
Drought in South West
Post-Brexit UK soil policy
Young people and soil health
Healthy soils needed for wine

26 August 2022

Soil carbon benefits for poor farms
Costs preventing farm climate actions
Oilseed rape not solution to soil compaction
Soil microbiomes and our health
Alfalfa and Martian soil

19 August 2022

Defra drought support
Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme Survey
Farmers seek more reservoirs
Soil contamination in war in Ukraine
Research on microplastics in soil

12 August 2022

Drought impacting soils
China national soil survey
Australian firms making soil carbon money
Soil bacteria reducing fertiliser use
Electrocuting soils to deal with forever chemicals

05 August 2022

World Congress of Soil Science
Defra farmer survey
UN on microplastics in soil
New approach to soil health
Peatlands in Congo

29 July 2022

UK drought to affect soils
Action on peat paused
Nature-Friendly Farming Network report
Earth’s topsoil at risk
Australia’s soils ‘poor’

22 July 2022

25 Year Environment Plan Progress
CPRE report
Heat affecting soils and crops
Action needed on microplastics in soils
New Fungi species

15 July 2022

EA Working with Nature
NFU report on soil health
International soil carbon credits
Soil quality key for heat stress
Biodynamic wine and soils

08 July 2022

Wales farming scheme proposal
Peatland burnings
Tesco and River Wye
WWF Feeding the Future
Soil pollution and heart disease

01 July 2022

SFI opens
Climate Change Commission reports
Investigation of water regulations
UK joins global food coalition
Nature-based farming and fertiliser

24 June 2022

Scottish farm payments move earlier
EU halving pesticides
Groundswell 2022
World Rainforest Day and food security
Wetter farm seeking to help peat

17 June 2022

Government Food Strategy
Feeding Britain Report
Nestle Wheat Plan
Biochar buried in farm soils
Weeds good for soil

10 June 2022

Defra slurry storage grants
NFU and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
Illegal peat burning
Soils in food and farming revolution
Soil art in Scotland

27 May 2022

Defra action for pollinators
UN global action on soil
Monbiot’s new book, Regenesis
Agrochemical microplastics in soil
Chelsea Flower Show

20 May 2022

Major decline in UK insects
Imported soils damage UK soil
Sadhguru calls for Global treaty for soil
Yeo Valley seeks increase in soil carbon
Plants grown in moon soil

13 May 2022

UK environmental tipping point
Basic payments forwarded to farmers
Food education at farms
Ben and Jerry’s regenerative farming
Soil pollution in churchyards

06 May 2022

Scotland's Sustainable Farming
Nutrient pollution law and housebuilding
Ireland funds EU soil research
Role of soil carbon in climate mitigation
Best British Beans

29 April 2022

Violations of the Farming Rules for Water
NFU and Green Alliance on ELMS
Levelling up Englands rural economy
40% of worlds land degraded
Rock dust can help soils

22 April 2022

Climate change education
Politics of protein and soils
Communities connecting with family farms
Forest edges growth
Soil pores

15 April 2022

SFI not paying enough
EU supports carbon farming
Food system not climate change ready
US Midwest losses 57.6trn tons of topsoil
The farmers behind Easter eggs

08 April 2022

IPCC on soil carbon
NFU warn food crisis
SFT on green hydrogen fertiliser
Soils under concrete
Soil and veganism

01 April 2022

Defra fertiliser support
SFI update
Peat in the horticulture industry
Riverford launch planet fund
Soil minerals and Covid-19

25 March 2022

Northern Ireland soil health scheme opens
UK Agriculture Partnership on soil
IfG reports on post-Brexit agriculture
EU halts Nature Protection package
Soil governance reviewed

18 March 2022

Fertiliser prices impact on soil health
Defra Environmental Targets
Red Tractor Standards and pesticides
Soil crusts prevent erosion
Guinness focus on soil health

11 March 2022

DAERA soil health advice
Soil food web
Eat insects help soils
Save Soils Campaign
Soils in Spring planting

04 March 2022

IPCC Report
Call to ban peat sales
Soil health impacts on nutrition
The sound of soil
Veganism and soil

25 February 2022

Research on peat ban
Construction soil specialists needed
Birch trees help soil plastic
Weeds show soil health
Fashion for healthy soil

18 February 2022

Defra learning as it goes with ELMs
$675bn subsidies harm soils
Peat soils in £10m landscape recovery research project
soils resilience strategy
Grasslands help soils and plants connect

11 February 2022

Defra raises peat grassland water levels
WWF farm soils net-zero role
Garden centre peat-free training
Fringe farms need soil
Grassland wildfire carbon sinks

04 February 2022

Rothamsted show climate risks soil
Defra opens landscape recovery scheme
Welsh govt farm carbon offset fears
Regenerative forestry helps soil
Soils lose, profit wins with big tractors

28 January 2022

Lords’ report on nature-based solutions
Defra drive woodland creation
Global Forum focused on soil
Soil under hedgerows capture CO2
Drying peat risk buried treasure

21 January 2022

Govt Climate Change Risk Assessment
Commons Committee report on water quality
Research funding for soils
Chemical pollution beyond safe limit
Earthworms damaged by microplastics

14 January 2022

House of Commons Committee on Defra’s ELM
Scottish funds for biodiversity
Carbon farming in the EU
Microplastics in tropical soils
Urban worms mission

07 January 2022

Oxford Farming Conference
Oxford Real Farming Conference
Northern Ireland and Defra consultations
FAO state of land and water
EU call for proposals

17 December 2021

UK Food Security Report
Agribusinesses lobbying for weaker EU policies
Ownership of data in farming
Environment Agency video on River Axe catchment
Success of city allotments

10 December 2021

UK Food Security Report
Agribusinesses lobbying for weaker EU policies
Ownership of data in farming
Environment Agency video on River Axe catchment
Success of city allotments

03 December 2021

New details on Defra’s SFI
SSA Soil in the Supply Chain report
FAO announcements for World Soil Day
Calls for soil carbon code
Mapping fungi

26 November 2021

Reforms to EU CAP
Peatlands in National Parks
Handheld soil test sensor
Antibiotics impact on soil microbes
Soil erosion and regenerative agriculture

19 November 2021

EU soil strategy for 2030
Office for Environment Protection
UK Farm Soil Carbon Code stakeholder event
New Soil Carbon Guide
Nitrous oxide emissions

12 November 2021

COP26
England’s Environment Act
Scotland joins 4 per 1000
WWF Retailer Commitment for Nature
UNCCD on Sustainable Land Management

05 November 2021

COP26
Soil Nutrient Health Scheme for Northern Ireland
BSSS on soil carbon
IUCN UK Peatland booklet series
Soil health for Net Zero farming

29 October 2021

Soil amendment rejected from Environment Bill
EFRA concerns over direct farm payments
20-50% of soils too salty to be fertile
Farmer-focused supply chains
Government agencies buying peat compost

21 October 2021

Environment Bill in the Commons
More on England’s Soil Health Action Plan
Government response to Climate Change Committee
Soils and greenhouse gas removal
EUSO stakeholder forum

14 October 2021

Environment Agency Climate Adaptation report
Soil Amendment to England’s Environment Bill
Natural England on woodland creation
Farmers trust in ‘experts’
SSA is hiring!

08 October 2021

Recommendations to improve UK’s water quality
Benefits of Agroforestry
Documentaries on farming with nature
Farming on Marxian soil
Studying deep soil

01 October 2021

Soil’s role in UK’s climate change mitigation
UK’s impact on global biodiversity
Northern Ireland’s future farming
Saline soils in Bangladesh
Volcanic soil bacteria

24 September 2021

UK’s regulatory bodies call for action
Lead up to COP26
Sustainable barley trials
Chelsea Flower Show winners
Plastic impact on soil health

17 September 2021

ELM’s lacking farmer support
Global impact of agricultural subsidies
Delay’s to England’s Environment Bill
Saving our Soils report
Soil health in Chelsea Flower Show

10 September 2021

Soils in England’s Environment Bill
Soil loss to increase 13–22.5 % in EU and UK
CPRE report on Hedgerows
FAO resources on soil organic carbon
IUCN World Conservation Congress

03 September 2021

Amendments to Environment Bill
Inflating figures on nature conservation
Soil biodiversity outcome document
Diverse landscapes increasing yields
Earthworms and soil quality

27 August 2021

EA’s regulatory statement on applying organic manure
Scotlands ‘New Vision for Land Use’ report
RHS survey on British gardeners peat use
UN Biodiversity Conference delayed
Farming systems that promote ecosystem benefit

13 August 2021

6th IPCC report
Local Nature Recovery Strategies consultation
Implications of net zero targets for land and food equity
Barriers to soil testing for beef and sheep farming
Increase in regenerative farming

06 August 2021

Expansion of Catchment Sensitive Farming
New guidance for Farming Rules for Water
German agricultural soils to help flood mitigation
Soil moisture driving Africa’s severe floods
Petition to ban synthetic pesticides in public areas

30 July 2021

Welsh regulations challenged by NFU Cymru
Soil loss by water erosion in EU and UK to increase
Review of carbon credit protocols
Extreme weather prompts sustainable rotations on pilot farm
Irish soil monitoring app

23 July 2021

Environment Agency hiring farm inspectors
Concerns over biodiversity metric
New York State’s Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act
New buzzword ‘regenerative agriculture’
Glossary of farming and environmental jargon

16 July 2021

The National Food Strategy
Grant awarded to develop and pilot a UK Farm Soil Carbon Code
Microsoft requests proposals for CDR tonnage
Stakeholder event on the UK soil carbon marketplace
Prince of Wales on sustainable agriculture

09 July 2021

Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan
EAC calls for urgent shadow target for soil health
Soil amendments debated in the House of Lords
UN call to restore degraded land
Joint NGO letter on peat compost sales

02 July 2021

Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan
EAC calls for urgent shadow target for soil health
Soil amendments debated in the House of Lords
UN call to restore degraded land
Joint NGO letter on peat compost sales

25 June 2021

Groundswell 2021
Environment Bill enters Committee Stage
EU CAP failing to support climate-friendly farming
Soil farmer of the year
Waitrose banning peat compost

18 June 2021

The CCC’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment
UK government responds to the Dasgupta Review
Defra’s updates to the OIF
G7 legacy nature project
China’s soil erosion decreases

11 June 2021

Updates on Defra’s Sustainable Farming Initiative
2nd annual progress report on Climate Ready Scotland
Costs for welsh farmers to comply to river pollution regulations
Soil pollution makes headlines
McCain’s regenerative agriculture pledge

03 June 2021

Failure to protect agricultural pollution of England’s rivers
Institute of Government report on post-Brexit regulations
Call for Welsh government to ban peat use
FAO Soil Pollution report
Environment Agency net zero road map

28 May 2021

Environment Bill returns to parliament
Natural England funding
EU reforming the Common Agricultural Policy
UK’s first carbon mapping service
UKRI trials to absorb CO2

21 May 2021

New target for biodiversity in England
England’s Peatland and Trees Action Plans
Soil as a nature-based solution for COP26
Silvopasture trial in Devon
Subsoil for climate change predictive models

14 May 2021

New Planning Bill
European Commission ‘zero-pollution’
Nature-based Solution for Climate Change report
UK farmers facing extreme weather conditions
Australia’s National Soils Strategy

07 May 2021

England Environment Bill updates
Defra peat restoration grant scheme
Pesticides harming soil organisms
Soils and Stones report
SSA Spring Newsletter

30 April 2021

Launch of Global Farm Metrics
EU resolution on soil protection
NFFN call for Scottish political parties
Implementing carbon farming in the EU
Policy instruments for soil protection

23 April 2021

The Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity
Natural England carbon storage by habitat
Carbon-sequestration of Irish soils
50 Next selects Soilmentor creator
Undies for soil health

16 April 2021

State of UK’s woods and trees
NFU Cymru launch legal challenge over new water rules
New app on Scottish soil erosion
Role of legume cultivation for soil and human health
Monitoring soil functions in Europe

09 April 2021

Peat free April
Call for a coalition of river users
Potential new committee on Environment and Climate Change
Environment Agency video on soil erosion
Soil health as a meaningful concept

01 April 2021

NFU ‘Confidence Survey’: farmers are increasing soil health investments
Environment Agency on environmental assessments for new RBMP
Pioneering UK soil carbon capture project
BSSS guidance for construction and planning
Cacao agroforestry improving soil fertility

26 March 2021

Calls for an agroecological bank
‘30 minutes worms’ survey
RHS commits to going ‘peat-free’ by 2025
25 years of soil data made freely available
Muddy potatoes to reduce food waste

19 March 2021

Concerns over SFI’s lack of ambition
Issues with the Farming Rules for Water
AHDB on soil carbon
European Geosciences Union awards 2021 Philippe Duchaufour Medal
Deforestation increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil

12 March 2021

Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) pilot
New SFI soil standards
Gender equity in soil science
Short film ‘From the Ground Up'
Impact of insecticides on soil nesting bees

05 March 2021

Whole of Wales made a nitrate vulnerable zone
Temporary environment watchdog announced by Defra
NGO letter to set legal targets for nature’s recovery
Unravelling soil carbon offsets
Soil biomes make great wines

26 February 2021

Environment Agency report on regulations
Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme
Forestry Commission accused of damaging peatland
Soil carbon in Australia
Glyphosate causing soil erosion

19 February 2021

Violations of the Farming Rules for Water
Growing Back Better report missing food and farming
BBC Radio 4 on rotational livestock and building soil carbon
Handheld soil probe developments
Loss of topsoil in US corn belt

15 February 2021

The Improved Countryside Stewardship scheme
ELM discussion document responses
Impact of CAP on sustainable soils management
Tree planting in carbon-rich soils
Microsoft buys soil carbon credits

05 February 2021

Public Accounts Committee report improvements to natural environment
The Dasgupta Review
New Welsh regulations
Responses to the EFRA Committee's inquiry
Peat legislation

29 January 2021

Environment Bill delayed
Responses to Defra’s Challenges and Choices consultation
Soil Association 2020 Progress Report
BBC Food article
Microplastics in Mediterranean seagrass soil

22 January 2021

This Good Earth premiers
Investigating the ‘60 harvests’ left claim
UN SoiLEX database
Antibiotics in Irish soil
Biodiversity in urban soils

15 January 2021

One Planet Summit for Biodiversity
Oxford Real Farming Conference
FAO 2020 updates on agricultural emissions
UK emergency authorisation of neonics
EU consortium for sustainable agricultural soil management

08 January 2021

Office for Environmental Protection leader announced
The Good Soil Guide
Real Oxford Farming Conference
Danone soil health program
Farming for Change report

18 December 2020

Flooding and soil erosion in the UK
Big brands to assess soil health in France
Sustainable farming scheme in Wales
Rewilding report
Garden centre sanctions for selling peat compost

11 December 2020

First report on soil biodiversity
The Sixth Carbon Budget
New report on Welsh farming
Natural England to adopt tougher monitoring of SSSIs
Artificial soil’s

04 December 2020

England's new roadmap for sustainable farming
EU Soil Observatory
New map of soil organic carbon
BBC soil animation
Launch of a community soil hub: uksoils!

27 November 2020

UK 2020 Spending Review
Soil compound for antibiotic resistance
Worm-like soil-swimming robots
Soil respiration dataset, lunar soil
Lunar soil

20 November 2020

UK PM’s climate plan references soil health
US president’s advisors call for a carbon bank for farmers
UK peatland burning debate
Social-ecological framework for soil carbon policy
Meadow’s soil carbon quantified

13 November 2020

England's Agricultural bill becomes law
Soil Association report ‘Grow back better’
Natural England budget cuts
SSA executive co-director on soil carbon
Ensuring your chocolate bar isn't degrading soils

06 November 2020

Rise in global temperatures leading to release in soil carbon
England ’s new Nature Recovery Network
Phosphate in Welsh rivers
EU nitrate directive insufficient
Tracking your beer’s barley for soil health

30 October 2020

NCC report on UK's 25 YEP
Unchecked report on UK’s enforcement gap
Forbes encouraging investing in healthy soils
Waitrose farm swapping machines for sheep
Soil phosphorus in Northern Ireland

23 October 2020

EU habitats at risk
EU on farm carbon sequestration
UK biodiversity net gain for developers
Soil disturbance impact on plant growth
Asteroid soil

16 October 2020

Noah’s ark of soil microbes
Agricultural Bill amendments rejected
NFU’s new report
Home developments on peatland
Sewage pollution risks

09 October 2020

Earthshot Prize
Underestimated nitrous oxide emissions
‘Nature Means Business’ report
EA limited funding
Poultry units pollution

02 October 2020

England's farms inspected every 263 years
UN Biodiversity Summit
Kew Gardens new report
Northern Real Farming Conference
McDonald’s fund for potato farmers

25 September 2020

‘Kiss the Ground’ documentary
Lords amendments to Agricultural Bill
EU Horizon soil mission
GSBI unites with EU Coalition for biodiversity
UK pesticide ban

18 September 2020

WWF’s 'Living Planet Report 2020’
New data on soil lifespans
’Nitrate-trading’ pilot scheme
UK rivers polluted
Long-lasting impacts of deforestation

10 September 2020

IUCN report
Soil erosion by water analysis
Soil age regulates silicon cycling
Long term no till trials
Soils that liquify

03 September 2020

Microplastics impact soil life
Importing sewage sludge
Soil sniffers
Increasing Great Plains soil conservation
Climate change and permafrost microbes

27 August 2020

Soil erosion from water runoff to increase in next 50 years
Ranchers & conservationists join forces to save US grassland
Tech solutions for soil degradation
Carbon negative farming
Biochar in action

20 August 2020

Soil as extreme weather resilience
The risks of a disrupted nitrogen cycle
Nature Recovery Network pilots
Organic gardening on the increase
A global soil spectral library

13 August 2020

Wheat, wheatgrass and earthworms remediating polluted soil
New technologies increase effectiveness of soil testing after oil spills
Trees as important drivers of microbial communities
Advances in soil sampling
CO2 emissions from tropical soils

06 August 2020

SSA's responds to Defra’s ELM policy discussion
Agriculture Bill debate transcripts
UK’s global land use impact
Soil carbon in agricultural systems
Evidence nature destruction increases pandemic threat

30 July 2020

National Food Strategy Pt 1
Tree planting and soil carbon
Ground-nesting bees
Nature at the heart of development
Decreasing soil animal biomass

24 July 2020

Natural Capital Committee 25 YEP progress report
UK soil management survey results,
Acting to ban peat burning & horticultural use
Soil-to-soil textile processes
$1m soil health research funding

16 July 2020

EAC consultations
30% degraded arable soils
UK announce Trade & Agriculture commission,
Wastewater fertiliser
Call for a Clean Soil Act

09 July 2020

SSA’s Director on the 100 harvests question
Land management as the root cause of zoonotic disease
Halving pesticide use to save insects
Supporting nature for a resilient bounce back
Fermented vs composted waste

02 July 2020

Agriculture Bill concerns
A ‘soil-first’ approach to farming
UK net zero progress and direction
Carbon and soil function
Soil life in the Amazon

25 June 2020

Defra consultation and stakeholder sessions
Shifting goalposts in ELM
Predicting soil respiration
Soil moisture’s impacts on microbial activity and carbon dynamics
Restoring soil health in Nepal

18 June 2020

WWF report urges a green recovery
National Trust’s agroecology triumph
UN Desertification & Drought Day
Black Lives Matter in environment and soils
Soil health and crop quality

11 June 2020

CerealsLive2020
New Sustain briefing on land-use
Ag Bill in House of Lords 2nd reading
Plant diversity impacts soil
Eight-soil improvers to buy

04 June 2020

SSA report future of land and soil health
James Hutton Institute on plant growth
Research to support improved soil health
Tolerant rice growing in China
Pivotal moment for organics

28 May 2020

Report on growing US regenerative agriculture
Carbon footprint tool for UK farmers
Article on regenerative agriculture and climate
Newly discovered microbe
Bacteria could boost soil health

21 May 2020

OF&G land-sparing/sharing maps
George Monbiot on ecology education
Agricology video thanks farmers
China reversing desertification
Farmerama on enlightened agriculture

14 May 2020

Agroecology amendments in Ag bill called
Green Alliance seek green recovery
New approach to farming for fashion
Soil pathogens rise as soil temperatures do
Indian farmers support sustainable agriculture

07 May 2020

Compost Awareness Week
FAO policy brief on water management
Relationship between monsoon rains and soil
Japan explore growing food on radiation contaminated soil
Soil pores hold key to stability of desert soils

30 April 2020

Sanitised soil could stem bleeding wounds
EU assess soil loss from water erosion
New antibiotic in Mexican rainforest soil
Human activity leaves soil chemical footprint
Green Alliance discuss future of food supplies

23 April 2020

Unsustainable soil erosion
Straw improves soils
Soil key to farmers tackling climate change
Continuous soil monitoring needed
Earth Day

16 April 2020

Plastic mulch damages soil
Labour shortages
Feeding the Nation
New Over the Farmgate podcast
Future of Land management series webinar

09 April 2020

ELMs consultation closed by Covid
Natural Capital Committee report on nature-based solutions
EFRA Committee looks at food supply in pandemic
Reason for smell of earth after rain
Peat Free April continues

02 April 2020

Soil Structure and its benefits
Soil's role in tackling floods
Peat Free April begins
HS2 work affects soils
Cover crop mixes impact soils

26 March 2020

Soil monitoring gets limited fundingÂ
Farmers seeking local help
France declares glyphosate as vitalÂ
Soil education resources for childrenÂ
Birdwatching can help us

20 March 2020

Soil monitoring FOI
Tenant farmers and soil management
World's carbon stores
Plants cleaning crude oil in Amazon
Nature improving well-being

12 March 2020

Green Alliance Report
UK organic cotton sales up
Soil microbes and soil nitrogen
Agricultural Resilience Act
Use plants to grow soil

05 March 2020

UK flooding Inquiry
Gardening tips for soil
Amazon rainforest and carbon
Cover crops help soil health
Oil palm plantations impact microfauna

28 February 2020

SFI pilot plans published
Gender Equity in soil science
From the Ground up film
Govt environmental principles reduced
SoilTalks launched by uksoils and SoilCare

20 February 2020

Billions being made from pesticides
Rebecca Pow made Environment Minister
Soil key to agricultural productivity
Muck could help reduce flood risks
Plant gardens rather than build houses

17 February 2020

Debates over new Environment Bill
Agriculture Bill in Parliament
Future of soil conservation in Europe
Austrian map of world soil erosion
George Monbiot highlights peat burning

06 February 2020

Environment Bill not covering soil
US sustainable cotton coming to Europe
National Food Strategy considers agroecology
Microplastics leaving soils unsuitable for farming
Organic sales in UK grown

30 January 2020

Plants manipulate soils
New soil foundation launched in Europe
Ranchers and vegans should work together
US soil scientist urges payments for soil carbon
Artificial microreservoirs

24 January 2020

Climate Change Commission report on land-use
Govt environment bodies pledge to tackle climate emergency
Soil neglected in construction
Lake District facing substantial soil erosion
Plastic tree guards plague new woodland

16 January 2020

Soil in Agriculture Bill
EU environmental directives UK withdrawal
Economics of soil regeneration in Europe
US losing millions of tonnes of soil to erosion
Yorkshire shepherd Nuffield Scholar

10 January 2020

SSA at Oxford Real Farming Conference
Soil-health focused CAP reforms
Soil is solution to future water and food security
Put price on soils
Soil drying due to climate change

12 December 2019

Soil in election manifestos
MEPs call for legal protection for land
Turkey facing soil degradation
Biological soil crusts
Welsh govt support controlled environment farming

06 December 2019

World Soil Day
Soil erosion in Scotland and India
Farmland soil has low shelf-life
Diversity of soil organic matter important
UK soils and sugar

29 November 2019

Prof Jane Rickson talks soil on Radio 4
Politicians' failure to protect soils
Microplastics in soil alter soils
Isabella Tree on Desert Island Discs
Preparing soils for Spring

21 November 2019

Pesticides
Climate change and soils
Cardboard and soils
Scotland and future soils' resilience
New tool to assess soils

14 November 2019

Carbon storage
Veg growing and heavy rain
Nuclear technique to test soils
Decline in German insects and spiders
Multiple benefits of outdoor learning

08 November 2019

Rice under threat
Soil influences microbe communities
Soil bacteria protect crops against fungi
Biodiverse soils help with mental ill-health
Change vegetation driers soil more

01 November 2019

Climate change threatens South East farming
Environment Bill passes 2nd reading
Lake sediments increased over 4000 years
Soil microbes and wild fire
Future landscapes

24 October 2019

A Scottish Council approves peat extraction
Environment Bill 'not fit for purpose'
Agricultural Bill reintroduced
1/3 of UK fresh 'cocktail' of pesticides
Soil key to saving family farms

17 October 2019

Understanding microplastics in soil
Latest version of Environment Bill
Study accurately calculates soil carbon
World Food Day
Growing food on moon may be possible

11 October 2019

Adding compost increases soil carbon
Adding fungus to tomatoes increases yield
Military papers help soils
Rothamsted launches dating site for papers
Cannabis plants help soil

04 October 2019

Social enterprise composting waste in Paris
New soil moisture sensor
Australia's mangroves are carbon sink
Organic cotton T-shirt can save water
NFU held debate on Brexit

27 September 2019

UN Climate Summit
Meeting of global agricultural ministers
Soil microbes make plants resistant
Earthworms triple after cover crops
Labour Party focus on net zero

19 September 2019

Carbon farming ramping up
Soil microbes breakdown pollutants
BBC on soil bacteria
Worms fail in microplastic soils
Soils changed to face earthquakes

06 September 2019

RSPB blog on Ag Bill
US research on soil fungal diversity
Long-read on fungal-plant interactions
Sustain declares Climate emergency
All growers should test soils

30 August 2019

World water quality crisis
Organic gases from soils reactive
Robots help take soil samples
Bees exposed to lethal pesticides
Research on soil microbes and drought

23 August 2019

Salty soils
Soil carbon and forest fires
Recreate pocket peat areas
Soil microbe patterns
Northern Ireland soil sampling

08 August 2019

IPCC report on climate change
Amazon can act as carbon sink
Recarbonisation of global soils
24 Hours in Farming
US ag 48x more toxic

01 August 2019

SSA soap box
New environment ministers
No deal Brexit and farming
Food, Poverty, Health and Environment Committee
Soil pore structure important

26 July 2019

Nematodes in the Arctic
Cigarettes in soils impact plants
Children's meals are poor
Cereal makers and soil health
UK soil policymaking

19 July 2019

SSA, soils and Westminster
Aviation and soil management
Spain will suffer desertification
Human composting
Animals are key

19 July 2019

SSA, soils and Westminster
Aviation and soil management
Spain will suffer desertification
Human composting
Animals are key

04 July 2019

Allotment soil safer
Biochar helps soil carbon
Iran and world soil loss
New soil app
Test soils in paddocks

20 June 2019

World Day to Combat desertification
Cut farm ammonia could save lives
Soil biodiversity and radiation
US farms supported to diversify
New book on environmental policy

14 June 2019

Guardian list for net zero
Green Brexit
AHDB soil health indicator
Soil erosion in Tanzania
Drones tracking soil loss

07 June 2019

EA soil report
Soil in landfill
Contaminated topsoils
Innovating soil competition
Global soil week

31 May 2019

WWF soils key for food security
Big Soil community sampling
Cereals event 2019
Disastrous loss of topsoil
US soil health laws

23 May 2019

Earthworms key to human survival
Wheelie bin worm farms
Small farms declining
Economics and soil erosion by water
Meat-free school meal

17 May 2019

25 Year Environment Plan indicators
Report on soil management
Global Symposium on Soil Erosion
Earthworms key measure of soil health
Plants tailor own soils

10 May 2019

IBPES Global biodiversity assessment
Soil and public policy
100 harvests not based on evidence
Plant hormone under stress
Bio-fertilisers and soil health

03 May 2019

FFCC looks at rural poverty
Climate Change Commission report
Radio 4 on climate change and soil
Dire soil situation in China
Beavers released in Yorkshire

26 April 2019

Groundswell Director talks soil
Scottish farmers could do more on soil
China and soil pollution
Flood-water induced soil loss
Bill Gates on soil and climate change

11 April 2019

Three Year Experts Review
Syngenta recognises farming shift
European Journal of Soil Science
Pesticides and polluted streams
Vertical farming

05 April 2019

Brexit and the environment
Farmer awarded carbon credits
Organically-farmed soils
Dying soils in Europe
Natural climate solutions approach

29 March 2019

Ploughing through Brexit podcast
Citizen soil science initiative
Organically-farmed soils
Healthy soils and cotton
Soil microbes and climate

22 March 2019

SSA on Economics of Soil
Environmental regulations
Biodiversity and new housing
Review of glyphosate
Soil minerals as carbon sink

15 March 2019

Carbon in Spring Statement
Future food and agriculture report
Soil Health and Human Health
Cover crops and Soil Health
Bees exposed to pesticides

07 March 2019

Soil on Farming Today
Turning point for soil
Ways to measure soil health
Earthworm studies
Soil bacteria found

01 March 2019

Ten Years for Agroecology
No deal Brexit
Biodiversity for food and ag
FAO new handbook
Underwater soils

24 February 2019

Soil moisture impacts soil carbon
Soil and plants limit on emissions
McDonalds and soil Health
Soil forests take 80 yrs to recover
Importance of soil health

21 February 2019

Environmental policy halt
Sustain on Brexit and farming
Enhancing England's trees
Food in the anthropocene
Soil Conservation Bill

17 February 2019

Soil at the Eden Project
Seeds of Change Awards
World's permafrost soils rising
Soil in cities
New strain of antibiotic

14 February 2019

IPPR policy report
Global review on food
UK Green MEP on agrichemicals
Urban food growing sites
Topsoil loss in Canada

07 February 2019

Report on soil analysis
Barriers to soil conservation
Cleaning oil-soaked soils
Racial politics and soil surveys
Best in Soil Show competition

01 February 2019

CPRE on nature-friendly farming
Prosecco and soil erosion
General Mills pursues regenerative ag
Soil degradation in India
Drought and soils