A five-year research partnership to improve practical guidance on soil management has been announced by the AHDB and the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO).
The collaboration is aimed at improving on-farm understanding of soil health by benchmarking current academic and industry knowledge; developing and validating indicators of soil biology and soil health in research trials; and integrating a far-reaching knowledge exchange programme.
The new £1 million project is part of the AHDB GREATsoils programme, which complements a £1.5 million initiative looking at soil structure, to improve decision-making on soil and water management, announced by the body last year.
Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, the partnership lead from NIAB, said: “We recognise that there are already a broad range of novel soil health management strategies being used in an array of production systems.
“We want to bring together the best research and the most effective practical approaches on farm by establishing up to eight ‘farmer research innovation groups’ across the UK so we can help farmers develop their own site-specific best practice.”
Farmers and growers are invited to take part in the project launch events, which will:
- Summarise existing research in soil biology and health and ask for input on the best ways to share this information with growers
- Present a proposed “soil health scorecard” and seek feedback ahead of piloting
- Listen to questions from farmers and growers, and identify challenges and opportunities for improving soil biology and soil health on farm
- Explain how farmers and growers can get involved in the farmer research innovation groups
- Commence with workshops intended to engage farmers and growers to develop a programme of activity that will meet the needs of the industry
These ‘Managing Soil Health Workshops’ will take place on 13 November at Park Farm, Newcastle University, Morpeth and on 15 November at Hallmark Hotel, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester. Visitors can book their place through the AHDB website.
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