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NFFN Cymru gives evidence to Senedd committee on soil health

Wales
Policy & Views
Government
policy
soil health
Sustainable Farming Scheme

NFFN Cymru Manager Rhys Evans briefed policymakers on the importance of improving soil health for the future of farming in Wales

The Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs (Etra) committee recently held an inquiry into soil health and agriculture in Wales. NFFN Cymru Manager Rhys Evans was among those called to give evidence, highlighting the crucial importance of soil health in the future of farming.  Below, we share key points from the session.

Soil is of vital importance to agriculture as it is one of the fundamental building blocks of food production and farming’s ecosystem services. Healthy soil provides farmers and society with a wide range of benefits while poor-quality soil has a negative environmental and business impact.

Across Wales, soils are under growing pressure, with concerning evidence that soil quality is deteriorating in parts of the country. Worse still, some peatlands, which should be acting as vital carbon sinks, have become sources of emissions due to degration. Key issues include compaction from intensive use and set stocking, erosion, and low organic matter caused by input-heavy farming systems.

Farmers have a range of ways to test soil health, but many methods focus narrowly on food production and overlook the wider environment and climate benefits that healthy soil can provide. To truly understand soil quality, farmers need a more nuanced approach - supported by appropriate training and guidance.

The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) presents an ideal opportunity for Wales to put soil health at the centre of agricultural policy and scale up nature-friendly farming. It is vital that farmers adopting regenerative farming techniques and focusing on soil-based, nature-positive improvements are adequately rewarded under the scheme.

Strengthening existing environmental regulations could also help promote soil health. However, this approach has drawbacks. A one-size-fits-all model risks overlooking the diversity of landscapes and farm systems across Wales, and should be avoided. Setting national soil health targets is another option for policymakers, but it may face similar problems.

Maintaining and enhancing soil health is crucial for the sustainability of Welsh agriculture, its contribution to environmental goals, and its resilience to climate change.

Rhys Evans

Rhys Evans, NFFN Cymru Manager, said: “Soil health is the foundation of food production, supplying the water, nutrients and support for arable crops and the grasslands which underpin livestock farming. Healthy soils are home to a vast array of organisms and support essential ecosystem services such as cleaner water and air.

“It is concerning that problems such as topsoil loss and excess nutrients leaching into watercourses are increasing, and that agri-environment schemes have generally done little to improve the situation. While there are significant amounts of good-quality soil across Wales, there is clearly room for improvement.

“The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) offers a golden opportunity to properly support farmers to adopt nature-based techniques and management practices which will improve soil health. These can reduce costs as well as the environmental impact of farming, by helping farmers reduce their reliance on bought-in inputs such as feed and fertiliser.

“Maintaining and enhancing soil health is crucial for the sustainability of Welsh agriculture, its contribution to environmental goals, and its resilience to climate change.” 

You can read NFFN Cymru’s full written evidence to the committee here and watch Rhys’ appearance in front of the committee here.