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A Review of Soil Health Measurement and Assessment Initiatives in the UK

September 2024

In recent years we have been struck by the growth in number and range of organisations looking to influence how farmers measure, assess and analyse their soils. These initiatives are vital proxies for – and drivers of soils education - however they have the potential to confuse because of their application of different metrics, protocols and interpretation. These different schemes are also challenging for corporates and governments because they generate incompatible data – which is needed for global reporting etc.

To address this, we have carried out an extensive mapping of 34 schemes which include government policies, certification schemes, carbon calculators etc. The work highlights both similarities and differences and makes a strong case for greater harmonisation and uniformity as a means to drive universal soils appreciation and awareness. 

The work has been shared with the organisations responsible for their development, including LEAF, DEFRA, AHDB for their feedback. We will explore with all stakeholders the need – and appetite – for a more aligned approach – and the question of who should drive it.

This work is part of our Soil Health Industry Platform (SHIP), which has been running for two years to foster collaboration and cooperation in the field of soil health among major UK food and drink businesses. The SHIP consists of 11 members: Arla, G’s Fresh, Kellogg’s, Morrisons, Nestlé, Nomad Foods, PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Yeo Valley. If you are interested in joining the Platform or would like to learn more about it, please get in touch: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..