Home / Sources / Select Committees / Environment, Food and Rural A… / Soil Health
Index live
Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Soil Health

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Dec 2022 Closed: 23 May 2024 25 recommendations 11 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry is analysing the Government’s role in preventing further soil degradation and restoring soils across England, including through its Environmental Land Management Schemes and Soil Health Action Plan for England, expected in early 2023. To inform this inquiry, the EFRA Committee launched a farmer survey on soil health . The Committee wanted to hear … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Soil health HC 245 5 Dec 2023 36 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
15 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

Develop ambitious ELM scheme plans for soils by 2026, including a 90% land target.

Using an analysis of recent soil health trends, the Government should set out, by 2026, long-term plans for how ELM schemes will become more ambitious for soils. This should include: a) Putting all basic actions known to improve soils into the SFI if evidence suggests that the economic drivers are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the SFI already incorporates many soil actions and will consider adding more, while exploring ways to adapt CS. They recognize the value of defining "sustainable soil management" and aim to do so with stakeholder engagement. However, they aim for 60% of agricultural …
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
18 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

ELMs and the establishment of private ecosystem marketplaces do not tackle all the fundamental economic...

ELMs and the establishment of private ecosystem marketplaces do not tackle all the fundamental economic drivers of unsustainable soil management within the supply chain. We would like to see the Government set out how it will deal with the poor profitability within the sector, which is a barrier to more … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details existing grants, a new £25 million Nutrient Management Theme, and plans a consultation on fertiliser regulations to boost the supply and access of diverse organic inputs. However, the response does not specifically set out how it will deal with poor profitability in …
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
19 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

By mid-2025, the Government should develop an action plan setting out how it will make...

By mid-2025, the Government should develop an action plan setting out how it will make organic inputs a more economical choice for farmers. This should include measures that boost the availability and diversity of organic inputs to achieve soil health targets and ensure the organic recycling and agricultural sectors have … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details existing grants, like the £200m Slurry Infrastructure Grant, and a new £25 million Nutrient Management Theme launching in spring 2024, to support novel fertilisers and organic input development. They will also consult on fertiliser regulations. However, the response does not commit to …
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
27 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

Publish a 2026 timeline for Extended Producer Responsibility targeting soil and water pollutants.

The national soil monitoring programme should aim to gain a better understanding of the scale of soil contamination. To spur progress on nature recovery targets, this information should identify problematic areas that local authorities and developers are encouraged to remediate. Contamination data should also be used to develop Extended Producer … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government is developing a £78m Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme to support local authorities in remediating contaminated land. While the national soil monitoring program is collecting data on some inorganic contaminants, it is not currently collecting data on organic contaminants like pesticides and microplastics, and …
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
31 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

Continue supportive compliance monitoring while boosting comprehensive and frequent farm inspections.

The Environment Agency and the Rural Payments Agency should continue to take an initially supportive approach when monitoring compliance, given the low levels of engagement and the fact that most farmers want to do the right thing for their soils. Follow ups will be essential to ensure that compliance breaches … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with advice-led approaches and states enforcement occurs when advice is not acted upon. It highlights the use of earth observation technology for more efficient inspections and targeted advice, building on a successful pilot, but does not explicitly commit to boosting the overall …
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
36 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Accepted in Part

Invest in research to develop tailored guidance and decision-making tools for ELM objectives.

The review should also identify where guidance documents for sustainable farming— including sustainable soil management—could be better synthesised and made more specific to particular settings. Working closely with respected organisations such as the AHDB, the Government should invest in research projects to develop guidance and decision-making support tools for the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details its ongoing efforts to refine and improve accessibility and specificity of guidance through user testing, supplementary products, and online tools. However, it does not commit to investing in research for decision-making tools or subsidising collaborations and knowledge exchange as also recommended.
Read full response →
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
18 Jul 2023 Fiona James · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Mark Spencer · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Sion McGeever · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
13 Jun 2023 Dr Eleanor Reed · Natural England, Professor John Gilliland OBE · Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Tony Grayling · Environment Agency View ↗
24 May 2023 Dr Jane Gilbert, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, Dr Martin Blackwell · Rothamsted Research, Helen Browning · Soil Association, Jenny Grant · Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), John Williams · ADAS, Professor David Spurgeon · UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Professor Karen Johnson · Durham University View ↗
9 May 2023 James Robinson · Nature Friendly Farming Network, James Woodward · Sustain Alliance, Professor Pippa Chapman · University of Leeds, Richard Bramley · National Farmers Union (NFU) View ↗
3 May 2023 James Robinson · Nature Friendly Farming Network, Mr James Woodward · Sustain Alliance, Professor Pippa Chapman · University of Leeds, Richard Bramley · National Farmers Union (NFU) View ↗
7 Mar 2023 Dr Jacqueline Hannam · British Society of Soil Science, Martin Ballard · Society for the Environment, Mr Graeme Willis · CPRE - The Countryside Charity, Mr Kyle Lischak · ClientEarth, Mr Matthew Orman · Sustainable Soils Alliance, Professor Bridget Emmett · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
James Robinson · England Vice Chair Nature Friendly Farming Network 2
Professor Pippa Chapman · Chair in Biogeochemistry in the School of Geograp… University of Leeds 2
Richard Bramley · Environment Forum Chair National Farmers Union (NFU) 2
Dr Eleanor Reed · Principal Specialist in Soils Natural England 1
Dr Jacqueline Hannam · President British Society of Soil Science 1
Dr Jane Gilbert, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management — 1
Dr Martin Blackwell · Soil Biogeochemist Rothamsted Research 1
Fiona James · Deputy Director for Policy Design, Farming and Co… Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Helen Browning · Chief Executive Soil Association 1
James Woodward · Sustainable farming officer Sustain Alliance 1
Jenny Grant · Head of Organics and Natural Capital Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) 1
John Williams · Head of Soils and Nutrients ADAS 1
Martin Ballard · Soil and stones project lead Society for the Environment 1
Mr Graeme Willis · Agricultural Lead CPRE - The Countryside Charity 1
Mr James Woodward · Sustainable Farming Officer Sustain Alliance 1
Mr Kyle Lischak · Head of UK ClientEarth 1
Mr Matthew Orman · Director Sustainable Soils Alliance 1
Professor Bridget Emmett · Head for Soils and Land Use UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 1
Professor David Spurgeon · Ecotoxicological researcher UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) 1
Professor John Gilliland OBE · Special Adviser Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) 1
Professor Karen Johnson · Professor in Environmental Engineering Durham University 1
Rt Hon Mark Spencer · Minister of State (Minister for Food, Farming and… Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Sion McGeever · Deputy Director for Access, Landscapes, Peatland … Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Tony Grayling · Director of Sustainable Business and Development Environment Agency 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 May 2024 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to th…
23 Apr 2024 — Correspondence to the Secretary of State regarding the Government's response to…