In the UK, 6 million hectares are at risk of soil compaction and erosion. This soil degradation increases drought, flooding risk, water pollution, threatens biodiversity and reduces the soil’s ability to sequester carbon. UK soils currently hold around 9.8 billion tonnes of carbon, only around half of their carbon-storing potential. Poor soil health can also negatively affect food quality which in turn can be linked to chronic diseases. Action is urgently needed to restore the UK’s soil.

The ORC working with The Land Gardeners will establish a research and knowledge exchange programme with an organic estate linked to a network of satellite sites which are currently trialling a range of approaches to feeding the soil, centred around the use of composts, their teas and extracts at farm scale. This will enable us to conduct a comparison of different composting methods and application strategies under robust, controlled, conditions so that clear guidance for farmers can be developed.