Yesterday (5th November) over 200 delegates and speakers gathered at the Soil Association’s annual Soil Symposium in Bristol. Amongst those speaking was Kerry McCarthy, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and a local MP.

Kerry McCarthy said, “We talk about valuing the quality of air and water, but not the quality our soil which provides us the food that we eat.  Enhancing the health of our soils, one of the most precious resources we have, is absolutely critical to our food and farming plan for the next 25 years.”

Themes of the conference ranged from maintaining healthy soil and growing soil organic matter, to practical management of grassland to improve yields and reduce disease.

Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association said; “It is International Year of Soils, no better time for us to remember where we’ve come from and look to the future of our soils. We are only just beginning to understand the complex process that happens in the soil. We are taking huge steps forward in research, like the work through Innovative Farmers, but we need to do more. The most progressive, entrepreneurial farmers are working together with researchers to find practical solutions to common problems but at the heart of it all – and today is a testament to this – is soil.

“One quarter of life on earth is within the soil and the role of farmers and growers in protecting our soil cannot be underestimated. We need to feed our soil like we would feed our families. This is why the Soil Association is urging the government to stand up to our soil crisis and commit to increasing soil organic matter by 20% in the next 20 years.”

Many farmers are at the mercy of drastic soil challenges, from widespread flooding with whole harvests being washed away, to droughts and infertile soil. Speakers at the Soil Symposium gave practical advice to improving soil structure, keeping the nutrients in the ground and maximising yield of animals and crops.

Dafydd Jones spoke at the conference about ‘diverse lets for healthy soil and profit’. He farms a mixed upland farm in mid-west Wales. Dafydd said; “It is essential we farm in a sustainable way; we must not only farm for today but make sure we can farm for tomorrow too.”

Mark Lloyd, CEO of the Angling Trust spoke on the detrimental effects that intensive farming has had on fish and our waterways. “Maize is devastating our rivers through erosion – I think we should largely stop growing it – it seems to have an inordinate impact and its growth runs contrary to the NFU who talk of food security. It is one of the main causes of pollution in waterways, and endangers our fish stocks and breeding sites.

“It might seem that there is no obvious link between soil structure and water quality but for us it would be enormously helpful if soil organic matter were improved. We could reduce run-off, pollution, and avoid a return to that brown sea of soil that is now such a familiar image. To me it is clear that organic farming is the least impactful way of farming for our environment and the work the Soil Association is doing should be commended.”

At the Soil Symposium the Soil Association launched its 7 ways to improve soil organic matter:

1.      Increase the amount of plant and animal matter going back onto fields
2.      Encourage soil organisms – both those that build up soil and those that release nutrients
3.      Cover up bare soil with continuous plant cover
4.      Bring more trees onto farmland
5.      Reduce soil compaction from machinery and livestock
6.      Design crop rotations to improve soil health
7.      Improve soil health monitoring across the UK