First Report - Soil health
Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 245
5 December 2023
Recommendations
8 results
1
Accepted
Para 15
Develop comprehensive soil health indicators and a baseline as quickly as possible.
Recommendation
We are pleased that the Government is developing a set of soil health indicators and a soil health baseline. Data, and a common approach to measuring soil health, is essential for setting targets, tracking progress, evaluating the ELM schemes and …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirmed that national soil monitoring is underway through the tNCEA programme since 2022, aiming for a soil health baseline by 2028, and will publish provisional updates from 2024, a progress report on indicators by June 2024, and a more comprehensive model by 2025.
5
Accepted
Commission and publish analysis of existing third-party soil health data by 2026.
Recommendation
In order to gain an insight into recent trends, the Government should also, by 2026, commission and publish an analysis of existing soil health data held by third parties This should be used to inform future policy development, including incoming …
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Government Response Summary
The government is conducting its own national soil monitoring program (tNCEA) which began in 2022, aiming for a comprehensive baseline by 2028 to inform future policy, rather than committing to commissioning analysis of third-party data by 2026.
12
Accepted
Para 51
Increase SFI and CS payment rates and publish underlying calculation methodologies by 2026.
Recommendation
By 2026, payment rates for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes should be increased and calculated on the basis of income foregone, costs and an additional uplift for the public goods potentially provided. These payment rates should be …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that payment rates for SFI and CS schemes were increased on 1 January 2024, calculated based on income foregone plus costs. Updated rates and their independently verified methodology have been published, and the government intends to introduce payment premiums for high-value environmental actions.
13
Accepted
Para 54
Continue monitoring ELM uptake and remove identified barriers for all farmer types.
Recommendation
We are also concerned that significant numbers of farmers may struggle to access ELMs and so be unable to improve their soils. We are concerned about access for non-arable farmers, small-scale farmers, the horticultural sector, those with common land grazing …
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Government Response Summary
The government has introduced specific measures like the SFI Management Payment and adapted SFI rules to remove barriers for tenant and smaller farmers, showing increased uptake. It commits to introducing 16 new actions with a 3-year duration and exploring further options to improve accessibility for tenant farmers.
25
Accepted
Para 92
Soil contamination is a well-known yet not well-understood problem.
Recommendation
Soil contamination is a well-known yet not well-understood problem. There has been a longstanding and unacceptable failure to remediate historical soil contamination that acts as a barrier to nature recovery. As for contamination through agricultural inputs, the Government should also …
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Government Response Summary
The Environment Agency is actively investigating sludge quality and reviewing regulatory delivery for organic inputs like sewage sludge and composts. New ‘end of waste’ Resource Frameworks and amended permits are due by 2026/27, directly addressing the call for improved controls and protocols.
26
Accepted
Para 93
Review organic input regulations by 2025 to ensure adequate soil contamination protections.
Recommendation
By the end of 2025, the Government and Environment Agency should review the current regulations for the production, testing and application of organic inputs to make sure that are delivering enough protections against soil contamination. This review should set out …
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Government Response Summary
The Environment Agency is reviewing regulatory delivery for various organic inputs, including sewage sludge and composts, and plans to introduce new ‘end of waste’ Resource Frameworks and amended permits by 2026/27, aligning with the recommended review and action plan timeline.
30
Accepted
Para 100
Review by 2027 the Soil Reuse scheme and voluntary construction codes for mandatory status.
Recommendation
By 2027, the Government should review progress with the Soil Reuse and Depot scheme and revised construction codes of practice. This should include a consultation with stakeholders on whether these voluntary codes should become mandatory and regulated by an independent …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to publishing revised construction guidance by summer 2024 and piloting a Soil Reuse and Depot scheme by December 2026. These initiatives will include assessment of voluntary approaches with stakeholder engagement before considering any regulatory models, aligning with the committee's call for a review by 2027.
35
Accepted
Para 119
Publish a 2026 review of skills and training for agricultural nature recovery.
Recommendation
By 2026, the Government should publish a review into the skills and training available to support key initiatives for nature recovery across all relevant sectors. This review should analyse the training, guidance and advisory services available in the agricultural sector …
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Government Response Summary
The government outlines multiple initiatives to improve skills and training, including mandating industry standards, funding business advice, working with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, and introducing an agriculture T-Level. It also commits to publishing a Green Jobs Plan later this year, developed with cross-government and sector input, which will address the skilled workforce needed for nature recovery and the green transition.
Conclusions (5) Observations and findings — click to expand
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 24
The soil health baseline will not be established until 2028 and determining trends from that data will potentially take longer still. Given the importance of soil health, we feel it is essential to take steps now to use existing soil data and identify priority areas of concern. Furthermore, unlike the …
Government Response Summary
The government highlighted ongoing efforts through the tNCEA programme, including projects like the England Ecosystem Survey and England Peat Map, and the Environment Agency's Big Soil Stocktake launched in November 2023, which aim to collect comprehensive soil data and inform policy, but did not commit to more ambitious granular data collection or funding via ELMs.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 37
There is a lack of leadership and focus on soil health in Government policy. The awaited land use framework could certainly help but, given that the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and the Environment Act targets are already the central focus of policy and scrutiny, we believe that it would be …
Government Response Summary
The government states the current EIP already links soil health to other goals and includes an existing commitment to bring 40% of agricultural soil into sustainable management by 2028, increasing to 60% by 2030. They will review the EIP in 2028, but did not commit to giving soil health equal status to air and water in targets.
10
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 49
The Government’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes are an important economic incentive to protect and restore natural assets, such as soils. Until private ecosystem marketplaces are fully regulated and established for a variety of soil health benefits, ELM schemes will be the main tool for encouraging the restoration of soil …
Government Response Summary
The government stated the expanded SFI already includes soil improvement actions and committed to monitoring scheme effectiveness for economic barriers, considering further actions if needed. They also committed to defining 'sustainable soil management' in a clear, practical way with stakeholder engagement.
22
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 79
A new soil protections framework will be a major project and rely on data that is not yet available, suitable definition(s) of ‘sustainable soil management’, and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. We also recognise that it is also a difficult time for farmers during the transition away from …
Government Response Summary
The government did not commit to a future regulatory baseline for soil protection, instead detailing ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and usefulness of advice and guidance for farmers participating in existing SFI schemes.
34
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 118
There are gaps in local knowledge and skills when it comes to soil health and soil management across the economy. As environmental outcomes become more embedded in policy through agricultural, planning, construction and other reforms, it is vital that consultants and advisors as well as land managers are well-prepared to …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for improved soil health knowledge and skills, outlining multiple actions including mandating industry standards for SFI funding, providing free business advice until March 2025, supporting the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, introducing an agriculture T-Level, and developing a Green Jobs Plan.