Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
We are pleased that the Government is developing a set of soil health indicators and a soil health baseline. Data, and a common approach to measuring soil health, is essential for setting targets, tracking progress, evaluating the ELM schemes and understanding the merits of different interventions. The Government should develop …
Government response. The government confirmed that national soil monitoring is underway through the tNCEA programme since 2022, aiming for a soil health baseline by 2028, and will publish provisional updates from 2024, a progress report on indicators by June 2024, and a …
3
Conclusion
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
The soil health baseline will not be established until 2028 and determining trends from that data will potentially take longer still. Given the importance of soil health, we feel it is essential to take steps now to use existing soil data and identify priority areas of concern. Furthermore, unlike the …
Government response. The government highlighted ongoing efforts through the tNCEA programme, including projects like the England Ecosystem Survey and England Peat Map, and the Environment Agency's Big Soil Stocktake launched in November 2023, which aim to collect comprehensive soil data and inform …
5
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
In order to gain an insight into recent trends, the Government should also, by 2026, commission and publish an analysis of existing soil health data held by third parties This should be used to inform future policy development, including incoming iterations of ELM schemes. (Paragraph 26) Soils strategy and leadership
Government response. The government is conducting its own national soil monitoring program (tNCEA) which began in 2022, aiming for a comprehensive baseline by 2028 to inform future policy, rather than committing to commissioning analysis of third-party data by 2026.
6
Conclusion
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
There is a lack of leadership and focus on soil health in Government policy. The awaited land use framework could certainly help but, given that the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and the Environment Act targets are already the central focus of policy and scrutiny, we believe that it would be …
Government response. The government states the current EIP already links soil health to other goals and includes an existing commitment to bring 40% of agricultural soil into sustainable management by 2028, increasing to 60% by 2030. They will review the EIP in …
10
Conclusion
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
The Government’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes are an important economic incentive to protect and restore natural assets, such as soils. Until private ecosystem marketplaces are fully regulated and established for a variety of soil health benefits, ELM schemes will be the main tool for encouraging the restoration of soil …
Government response. The government stated the expanded SFI already includes soil improvement actions and committed to monitoring scheme effectiveness for economic barriers, considering further actions if needed. They also committed to defining 'sustainable soil management' in a clear, practical way with stakeholder …
12
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
By 2026, payment rates for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes should be increased and calculated on the basis of income foregone, costs and an additional uplift for the public goods potentially provided. These payment rates should be developed using data collected under the Natural Capital and Ecosystem …
Government response. The government states that payment rates for SFI and CS schemes were increased on 1 January 2024, calculated based on income foregone plus costs. Updated rates and their independently verified methodology have been published, and the government intends to introduce …
13
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
We are also concerned that significant numbers of farmers may struggle to access ELMs and so be unable to improve their soils. We are concerned about access for non-arable farmers, small-scale farmers, the horticultural sector, those with common land grazing rights and, in particular, tenant farmers. While we welcome the …
Government response. The government has introduced specific measures like the SFI Management Payment and adapted SFI rules to remove barriers for tenant and smaller farmers, showing increased uptake. It commits to introducing 16 new actions with a 3-year duration and exploring further …
22
Conclusion
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
A new soil protections framework will be a major project and rely on data that is not yet available, suitable definition(s) of ‘sustainable soil management’, and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. We also recognise that it is also a difficult time for farmers during the transition away from …
Government response. The government did not commit to a future regulatory baseline for soil protection, instead detailing ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and usefulness of advice and guidance for farmers participating in existing SFI schemes.
25
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
Soil contamination is a well-known yet not well-understood problem. There has been a longstanding and unacceptable failure to remediate historical soil contamination that acts as a barrier to nature recovery. As for contamination through agricultural inputs, the Government should also improve controls and protocols—both for their production and application—to give …
Government response. The Environment Agency is actively investigating sludge quality and reviewing regulatory delivery for organic inputs like sewage sludge and composts. New ‘end of waste’ Resource Frameworks and amended permits are due by 2026/27, directly addressing the call for improved controls …
26
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
By the end of 2025, the Government and Environment Agency should review the current regulations for the production, testing and application of organic inputs to make sure that are delivering enough protections against soil contamination. This review should set out a plan for closing any gaps in protections by 2026/27.
Government response. The Environment Agency is reviewing regulatory delivery for various organic inputs, including sewage sludge and composts, and plans to introduce new ‘end of waste’ Resource Frameworks and amended permits by 2026/27, aligning with the recommended review and action plan timeline.
30
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
By 2027, the Government should review progress with the Soil Reuse and Depot scheme and revised construction codes of practice. This should include a consultation with stakeholders on whether these voluntary codes should become mandatory and regulated by an independent body or the Environment Agency. The revised 2028 Environmental Improvement …
Government response. The government commits to publishing revised construction guidance by summer 2024 and piloting a Soil Reuse and Depot scheme by December 2026. These initiatives will include assessment of voluntary approaches with stakeholder engagement before considering any regulatory models, aligning with …
34
Conclusion
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
There are gaps in local knowledge and skills when it comes to soil health and soil management across the economy. As environmental outcomes become more embedded in policy through agricultural, planning, construction and other reforms, it is vital that consultants and advisors as well as land managers are well-prepared to …
Government response. The government accepts the need for improved soil health knowledge and skills, outlining multiple actions including mandating industry standards for SFI funding, providing free business advice until March 2025, supporting the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, introducing an agriculture T-Level, …
35
Recommendation
First Report - Soil health
Accepted
By 2026, the Government should publish a review into the skills and training available to support key initiatives for nature recovery across all relevant sectors. This review should analyse the training, guidance and advisory services available in the agricultural sector and set out a plan for improving their quality by …
Government response. The government outlines multiple initiatives to improve skills and training, including mandating industry standards, funding business advice, working with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, and introducing an agriculture T-Level. It also commits to publishing a Green Jobs Plan later …