9 August 2024

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced further changes to the 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. The updated guidance published this week includes changes to the scheme’s terms and conditions, some technical changes to guidance and more detailed information on some of the new SFI actions announced in May. Some farming advisers have expressed concerns that the SFI process is becoming too complex following the announced changes.

Twenty newly elected MPs have signed up to a scheme designed to help expand their knowledge of food and farming in the UK. Spearheaded by the Nationals Farmers’ Union (NFU) in collaboration with industry bodies, the year-long programme covers different farming sectors, and the knowledge and tools allowing them to ‘highlight the critical role of food security in delivering national security’.

Natural England’s Chief Scientist Report for 2023 has been published, which examines the scope and impact of the organisation’s work. A chapter focuses on their work delivering soil health research across England through 27 soil health projects in collaboration with a range of specialists, ensuring their work is evidence-led to improve the weight of advice they provide.

A Welsh vineyard has become the first in the UK to receive regenerative certification from A Greener World (AGW). The vineyard tries to work with challenging weather conditions and has designed their own vine training system to ensure the longevity of their vines by caring for the soil and environment. The AGW certification audits and certifies sustainable farming systems and launched in the UK in 2018.

UK food retailer Co-op has announced further funding for organisations who pioneer food production without damaging peatlands. Collaborating with the retailer’s charitable arm The Co-op Foundation via their Carbon Innovation Fund, £1 million will be divided between seven projects, including one developing soil additives from algae and another developing compost using worms.

Data from the Environment Agency has revealed that almost 500 different chemicals have been found across river catchments in England, more than half of which are classified as toxic or harmful to aquatic life. It showed that the majority of chemicals were found downstream to sewage outlets, with other sources including road pollutants and farm runoff.

Researchers have developed a way to measure underground soil moisture using vibrations from road traffic. Traditionally moisture in the vadose zone has been measured using satellite imaging, and this new method uses seismic technology to measure how vibrations from traffic are slowed by the presence of water as they pass through the ground.

Research published by Colorado State University has demonstrated that regenerative farming practices can be a long-term carbon storage solution. The researchers looked beyond solely soil organic carbon to study particulate organic carbon and mineral-associated organic carbon, understanding the differences in how they behave in soil and the impact of regenerative practices.