In calling for free and open access to the National Soils Inventory (NSI), the SSA has worked with ClientEarth to obtain responses to two Freedom of Information requests. On the basis of the information obtained, we have outlined the importance of the NSI to environmental, economic, and scientific outcomes in a Letter jointly issued to the Secretary of State.  

The SSA has responded to Defra's Land Use Consultation, outlining ways in which soils play a fundamental role in informing future land use decisions. Included in the response is a key ask, for the National Soil Inventory to be made free and open access in order to unlock a new era of universal, strategic soils appreciation and joined-up policy making. 

The SSA has written to Secretary of State Steve Reed outlining the role of healthy soils in achieving Defra's policy priorities and the need for an ambitious policy framework to protect and enhance English soils. 

In April we held our annual fundraising dinner at Yeo Valley HQ in Somerset. Find out how it went. 

We have published the 2023 Soil Health Industry Platform (SHIP) report which outlines a summary of industry actions for the protection of soil health in 2023, and the platform's priorities for the coming year. 

In February, we hosted a workshop in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology as part of the Land Use for Net Zero Soil Health and Carbon Dynamics Topic Advisory Group. 

We have updated our repsone to the 2021 Farming Rules for Water regulatory review following a call from the Defra Water Quality and Agriculture Team.

The SSA team were in Oxford in Janaury for the Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference. Read our summary of all things soil below!

We are excited to be part of the recently announced Land Use for Net Zero (LUNZ) hub, with £6.25 million funding from UKRI.

Following the publication of the EFRA committee's report into soil health in England, the SSA summarises the key takeaways in a briefing note. 

The eighth Soil Health Industry Platform (SHIP) meeting was held in November, which members on policies and projects relevant to the six action areas which underpin the SHIP commitment.