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Soil Research

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• Researchers are finding that when pulverized rock is applied to agricultural fields, the soil pulls far more carbon from the air and crop yields increase.

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• “Earthworm distributions are not driven by measurable soil properties.Do they really indicate soil quality?”

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• Scientists from the European Commission Joint Research Centre Soil suggest Soil erosion in the EU and UK will rise by 13-22.5% by 2050 because of climate change

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• Researchers have identified Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research. There is also a blogpost where the lead author explains the work and thinking.

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• How special soil observatories in China are helping to create more sustainable agriculture

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• The EU Commission launched today five new EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. One of the five missions is “A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030.”

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• Benefits of nitrogen-fixing bacteria could aid efforts towards farming soils on Mars

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Soil Events

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• The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is organising the first ever European Commission’s EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) stakeholders forum. This three-day event (built on six, focused, half-day sessions) will reflect the challenges facing soil within the various strategies of the Green Deal (e.g. the Soil, Biodiversity and Farm2Fork strategies, Zero Pollution Action Plan) and Horizon Europe’s proposed Mission on Soil Health and Food.

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• Check out this project Humus Economicus. This art and research project inquiries into the value and future of soil in urbanized landscapes. It seeks to draw attention to radically altered human-soil relations, the invisible work of soils, and practices of soil care in a time when soils are sealed and degraded at rapid rates.

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• This month the UN Food Systems Summit has taken place, and this includes soil talk! Especially Action Track 3: Boost Nature Positive Production including building a coalition of Action for Soil health. 

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• Have you seen this project and movement yet? Two women, soil scientists, runners attempt their longest run ever to change the way that we view soil — here’s why.

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• ​​In the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), UKRI invited researchers, policymakers, farmers, environmentalists and interested parties to discuss past successes in soil research and innovation, as well as to debate what the key questions are that need the most urgent answers, and where the future lies in better managing this vital planetary resource. Watch the BBSRC webinar on The Future of Soil Science, Climate Change and Agriculture back here.

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• The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published the outcome document to the Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity that took place in April this year. 

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• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released two practical instruments to contribute to soil organic carbon maintenance and sequestration. The first instrument is a global map showcasing the quantity and location of possible soil CO2 sequestration. The second is a technical manual with best practices for maintaining and improving soil organic carbon stocks.

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• The Cornell University Soil Health program is preparing for an upcoming international advanced soil health course for practitioners, educators, and students December 5-14, 2021. Registration is now open.

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Soil Amazement

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• We may not be able to breathe on Mars yet, but researchers have just found that mixing Mars soil with blood and urine can provide concrete. 

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• This is a personal favourite, the Dutch Parliament now has a prominent piece of soil art just behind the speakers’ table. Soil at the heart of decision-making between planet and society. The artist De Putter mentioned he wanted to bring the outside inside. Making the Earth a conversation partner.

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• In more news from the Netherlands, the ‘living coffin’ proves popular. As the coffin disintegrates it removes toxins from the soil.

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Soil Film

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• Eating Better has just released a new film called Producing Better, showing the advantages of regenerative agriculture on Eversfield Organic farm. ​

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Soil Policies

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• The new statistics on UK and England soil nutrient balances are now online. 

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• England Soil Health Action Plan to be launched

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• Nitrogen: The environmental crisis you haven’t heard of yet, or you did.

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• The new report ‘Saving our Soils’ by the Soil Association is out, which includes an updated assessment of current UK soil policy. It builds on the previous report named ‘Seven Ways to Save our Soils’. The new report proposes seven ways to restore and improve soil health, with advice and options for farmers and the government. 

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