Project aims
The twin aims of the project are firstly to develop a soil health sensor which provides in-field measurement of microbial diversity and fungal:bacterial ratio. This will help the project fulfil the second aim to deliver a platform comprising on-farm soil/root health testing tools and knowledge exchange community farmers can use to inform sustainable soil management (SSM) practices and test productivity improvements of novel genetics and bioproducts.
These ambitions will be carried out by ‘Root Rangers’ - farmers selected to carry out a series of on-farm trials for which they’ll be paid.
Root Rangers
The first stage of the project will give up to 30 UK farmers the tools they need to assess their crop roots and quantify the impact of their farming system on soil health. This brand-new platform will empower them to quantify the effect on productivity of new genetics and bioproducts. Support and inspiration will be delivered through a farmer-led community in which knowledge has true value.
The Root Rangers will be paid and trained to use on-farm soil/root testing tools to inform SSM practices and to evaluate novel genetics and bioproducts.
These on-farm trials will open a window on new opportunities to drive towards Net-Zero, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and build the environmental benefits that accrue.
Led by farmers and backed by the latest soil science the new platform will result in resilient farming systems, able to withstand the knocks as the effects of climate change take hold, with growers confident in continually improving levels of productivity, and trusted to maintain a global food supply.
How to get involved
Keen to expand the knowledge exchange beyond this core group of farmers, the project is also launching The Soil Circle, led by BOFIN. This will be a hub for the farmer-led community striving for resilient farming systems and discussing soils important role in food production, climate change mitigation, and maintaining biodiversity.
The project team are urging farmers interested in being involved – or those who just have an interest in what happens beneath their feet – to sign up now.
The twin aims of the project are firstly to develop a soil health sensor which provides in-field measurement of microbial diversity and fungal:bacterial ratio. This will help the project fulfil the second aim to deliver a platform comprising on-farm soil/root health testing tools and knowledge exchange community farmers can use to inform sustainable soil management (SSM) practices and test productivity improvements of novel genetics and bioproducts.
These ambitions will be carried out by ‘Root Rangers’ - farmers selected to carry out a series of on-farm trials for which they’ll be paid.
Root Rangers
The first stage of the project will give up to 30 UK farmers the tools they need to assess their crop roots and quantify the impact of their farming system on soil health. This brand-new platform will empower them to quantify the effect on productivity of new genetics and bioproducts. Support and inspiration will be delivered through a farmer-led community in which knowledge has true value.
The Root Rangers will be paid and trained to use on-farm soil/root testing tools to inform SSM practices and to evaluate novel genetics and bioproducts.
These on-farm trials will open a window on new opportunities to drive towards Net-Zero, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and build the environmental benefits that accrue.
Led by farmers and backed by the latest soil science the new platform will result in resilient farming systems, able to withstand the knocks as the effects of climate change take hold, with growers confident in continually improving levels of productivity, and trusted to maintain a global food supply.
How to get involved
Keen to expand the knowledge exchange beyond this core group of farmers, the project is also launching The Soil Circle, led by BOFIN. This will be a hub for the farmer-led community striving for resilient farming systems and discussing soils important role in food production, climate change mitigation, and maintaining biodiversity.
The project team are urging farmers interested in being involved – or those who just have an interest in what happens beneath their feet – to sign up now.
