A new report suggests the UK places little importance on soil, resulting in a 'worrying lack' of knowledge around it.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Agroecology for Sustainable Food and Farming said that although 95 per cent of the UK's food comes from the soil, the political agenda does not reflect this and current policy is insufficient in protecting soil for future generations.
Following the APPG’s recent inquiry into soil health and protection, which took a particular focus on agriculture, serious concerns emerged around the following key areas:
Soil can act as both a carbon sink and emitter, but government policy does not go far enough to preserve soil quality and current incremental plans to improve agricultural performance are far from sufficient. Soils must be incorporated into the Government’s climate change strategy.
It is not possible to study soil science below postgraduate level, often making soil the most neglected component of land use. Policymakers, farm businesses and advisers are less likely to consider soil as the cause or solution to a problem.
The national picture on soil health is deplorably lacking, and there are currently no assessment plans, despite the Government commitment to ensure that all soils are managed sustainably by 2030
Maize crops for energy use are often proving to be implicated in soil compaction and flooding. Policy must also encourage extensive farming over intensive farming, and business and political infrastructure surrounding our diverse farm sector must work harder to safeguard soil.
A panel of cross party MPs and Peers heard evidence over three oral sessions, with expert witnesses from the NFU, Rothamsted Research Institute, the Soil Association and Cranfield University among others.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer, who led the inquiry panel, said: "Healthy soil is vital both here and around the world.
"Failure to tackle current problems will lead to catastrophic environmental, economic and social breakdown.
"Reversing the loss of soils, along with restoring knowledge and interest in soil, are essential first steps to sustainable food production."
One step that could be taken to build healthier soils, is to use measures within Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to incentivise farmers to improve soil organic matter with initiatives, such as crop diversification to include agroforestry, which could also mitigate against harmful monocrops, for example maize grown for energy use.
The findings echo many of the concerns expressed in the recent Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report, and when read together they give a complete assessment of UK soils, along with policy recommendations to improve their current state.
The APPG particularly supports recommendation 691 from the EAC report, which recognises the need for agricultural practices that maximise soil health, and calls for landowner incentives to restore soil quality to help mitigate against flooding.
Such a policy could help deliver against food security concerns while also providing natural barriers to help minimize damage from the increasing number of floods battering the UK.
As the UK population is set to rise to some 70 million people by 2030, the issues outlined in the reports will need to be taken seriously or the pressure on our agricultural system may prove devastating.
The APPG is sharing the reports with Ministers and Shadow Ministers to raise the importance of soil health and to encourage greater consideration for soil protection policies.
'One of the most vital resources for food production'
Georgia Farnworth, policy officer at the Soil Association said: "This most recent signal that MP’s from all political parties are committed to the protection of our soils – one of the most vital resources for food production – is hugely encouraging.
"The Soil Association is particularly pleased that our evidence to the APPG into the need to protect our soils have been agreed, especially from the negative impacts of growing maize, which were highlighted in this report as well as by the EAC and in the recent DECC consultation.
"The APPG report also concluded that the subsidy regime for AD maize needs to be urgently reviewed.
"We must continue to ensure soil is rooted at the top of the political agenda.
"Farmers need the right advice and best practice guidelines for improving soil organic matter and reversing the dramatic loss of agricultural soil that has devastated the nation in recent flooding.
"This is something the Soil Association has outlined in our recent 7 Ways to Save our Soils report."
The APPG for Agroecology Inquiry panel comprised:
• Scott Mann MP
• Simon Hoare MP
• Jeremy Lefroy MP
• Rebecca Pow MP
• Daniel Zeichner MP
• Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
• Baroness Young of Old Scone
• Lord Cameron of Dillington
