There’s no denying that agriculture and all of us working within it, have landed at a very interesting turning point.
The times ahead are undoubtedly exciting, they hold incomparable potential and opportunity in fact. As we begin to navigate through a massive transformation, following the last 50 years of reliance on NPK, industry evolution has been steady, and change has been minimal.
It’s hard to predict the future, otherwise, we’d all be millionaires, but that element of the unknown is where I believe we can tap into a whole new approach; led by creative thinking and application and eventually new methods being accepted as normal practice.
The knowledge is ramping up in concern to soil health and the importance of it to all of us in agriculture. We’re taking great leaps in the understanding of our biodiversity and our underground livestock.
As in the biometrics of humans – the microbes in both soil and humans hold the key to health and longevity.
The transition into biodiversity that the wider industry has taken tentative steps towards is akin to the smart phone and its development. What we see today is only the beginning of the sustainable applications to the benefit of the industry. Development continues at pace behind the scenes, all with the promise of delivering the extraordinary.
The process of change to a high biodiverse soil structure is not a quick fix. Years will pass before soil structure builds up to the detectable level of benefit and change – but hey ho, seasons come and go so fast this accomplishment will come around before we know it.
The rewards are multiple, and already there…
- Lower fuel use
- Easier workable soil
- Fast straw breakdown
- Increased porosity
- Healthier plants
- Increased photosynthesis
- Carbon return
- Improved water quality
- Enhanced fungicide activity
- Possible reduced synthetic nitrogen applications
Not all these benefits have been quantifiably recorded on a regular basis with trials data, yet. However, with the combination of less soil movement and beneficial soil activators/biostimulants to feed the microbes during the growing season, many farmers that have committed to feeding the underground livestock are seeing positive results over time - both across the UK and EU.
By feeding the microbes, balancing the fungi and bacteria in the soil structure, the plant has increased access to the nutrients it needs to help secure the production of a crop, while it is attempting to thrive under several stressful conditions.
Soil activators and bio stimulants increase better organisation of the soil organic matter and its fertility over a long period of time, resulting in constant quality and yield from season to season.
Working closely on joint ventures, trials, and farm demos and with the addition of international food processors, we can deliver an active sustainable map to support farmers and growers through the change to regenerative farming practices.
Get in touch with Grant and the Sea2Soil team: