ORGANIC SOIL IMPROVER: Providing a full nutritional profile for you soil to make it healthier and more productive
Engineering and nuclear industry background, works offshore while managing the farm. Grows barley, runs livestock across rough grazing, exploring expansion into summer crop production and winter store lamb/cast ewe grazing.
Brings an engineering mindset to regenerative farming. After extensive research into biological inputs and foliar systems during offshore shifts, John has built a comprehensive knowledge of alternative farming systems. His dual career means he must make the farm “work smarter, not harder.”
Operating a mixed farm in the far north of Scotland whilst working offshore full-time. Needed a system that could improve soil health, reduce synthetic inputs, and maintain productivity with less intensive management during extended absences.
After late-night research sessions following offshore shifts, John discovered Sea2Soil. He began trialling the product alongside foliar-applied urea, Epsotop, and molasses – even without compound fertilisers. Working with Jenna Ballantine at NewGen Agri and Andy Cheetham at Hybrid Farming Systems to build a longer-term, biological-based nutrient plan.
The most striking change came in older permanent pasture:
“We’ve got older fields that sheep used to avoid. Since applying Sea2Soil, they’re now grazing those fields evenly. One field in particular was always strip-grazed for cattle, but the sheep would never touch the aftermath. Now they graze the whole lot without hesitation. That tells me something in the biology has shifted – it’s making the forage more palatable or healthier.”
Mixed farm with organic land and conventional arable rotation, native Aberdeen Angus cross cattle.
Farming with a regenerative approach for several years, implementing direct drilling, cover crops, companion crops, crop rotation, and mob grazing systems.
As both an agricologist and a Pasture for Life member, Doug brings scientific rigour to his farming decisions. His systematic approach to trialling products – including untreated control strips – demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based regenerative farming. Doug was also our winner of Sea2Soil’s Great Groundswell Giveaway 2025.
“With a mixed farm of around 1,500 acres, a mixture of organic land and conventional arable rotation, I have been farming with a regenerative ‘slant’ for a few years now,” said Doug.”Using methods such as direct drilling, cover crops, companion crops, crop rotation, and recently mob grazing with my native Aberdeen Angus crosses, this year I have also started implementing Sea2Soil.”
After attending a BASE seminar earlier in the year and hearing from Sea2Soil, along with encouragement from Chris Leslie at Cloud Farming, Doug decided to trial Sea2Soil on his wheat fields in 2025.
Doug took a methodical approach to testing Sea2Soil’s effectiveness: “In every wheat field, I requested that 6m strips not be sprayed with the product. I also asked not to be told where these strips were.”
This blind trial design meant Doug could assess the product’s impact objectively, without bias influencing his crop walking observations.
The results were striking – and visible to the naked eye:
“When crop walking, you could pick out every strip where Sea2Soil hadn’t been sprayed – the plants were lighter in colour, they weren’t as healthy as those that had received the product.”
For Doug, the product’s sustainability credentials were as important as its performance:
“While the legacy of the product remains to be seen – given that we can’t expect to see any yield results just yet, I do think there is something there. There are a lot of products coming into the market now, but this is completely natural; why not keep it simple? The product is making use of what is essentially a waste product from another industry and is saving that from being disposed of in a harmful way.”
“There’s no silver bullet when it comes to farming, and I know I’ve made mistakes over the years, but you have to try these things; that’s how you learn. Every farm is different, every field is different, so no one approach is going to work. Just as the industry is always changing, how we need to farm and adapt our systems is too. I’d like to think I’m a regenerative farmer, but there are always so many variables to consider; all we can strive to do is create resilient farms, with resilient soil, by adapting so we can be in the best position to face the future.”
As the winner of The Great Groundswell Giveaway, Doug joined the Sea2Soil team at Groundswell 2025, enjoying event entry, overnight accommodation, and a front row seat to Joel Williams’ talk on the Sea2Soil stand.
In partnership with Terrafarmer, Sea2Soil has been involved in key biological studies taking place across Wales. Funded through Innovate UK, this nine-month study involves seven working farms - four farms through Innovate UK and three additional farms through Farming Connect - testing seven biological stimulants to answer critical questions: can biologicals reduce input costs while improving forage quality?
Results so far show an increase in kilograms of dry matter (DM)/ha, crude protein, trace element availability and microbial biomass from some of the seven products tested, when compared with a control. With Sea2Soil setting market-leading results.
This is according to regenerative agronomist and soil consultant Will Marris at Terrafarmer, which is running the nine-month, Innovate UK-funded research project.
Out of seven biological products tested, Sea2Soil ranked number one for crude protein improvement, delivering 136.225 g/kg compared to all other products and the control treatment. It also ranked in the top three for improving microbial biomass.
“A number of products tested, including Sea2Soil, are improving crude proteins and sugar. If that goes into a silage clamp, you’ve got more sugars for the fermentation process. If you get a better fermentation, you get better-quality forage.” - Will Marris, Regenerative Agronomist, Terrafarmer
Sea2Soil fish hydrolysate, the first soil improver product to launch on the UK market, provides an ideal food source for soil biology by providing a naturally high source of protein and carbohydrate.
“By feeding the beneficial underground livestock in the soil – the bacteria and fungi – these in turn are helping with the mobilisation of vital trace minerals such as boron, manganese, and magnesium. Soil, leaf, and forage tests showed more of these nutrients becoming readily plant-available, moving from the soil into the leaf and therefore into the forage. This could even reduce the need to supplement trace minerals given to livestock through licks or drenches.” - Will Marris, Regenerative Agronomist, Terrafarmer
For a grass-based, multicut system using 250kg/ha of nitrogen:
“You could easily reduce synthetic N fertiliser inputs starting at 25% to 50%, but that needs to be done over a few years in a managed reduction,” advises Will.
The trials demonstrated that timing applications correctly significantly impacts effectiveness:
Data has been collected across four farms through Innovate UK and three additional farms through Farming Connect, with each farm having eight trial plots (20x160m). Products were applied using a Tow and Fert machine timed around grazing and cutting regimes.
Ready to see these results on your farm?
Season One of The Sea2Soil Podcast is complete! Across six episodes, we’ve heard from six expert voices and listened to their insights into the future of soil health and regenerative farming.
And what a journey it's been. From conservation agriculture principles to real-world regenerative systems, from microbial activity to amino acid applications, we’ve explored the challenges and opportunities facing modern farming through honest, expert-led conversations.
Hosted by our Business Development Manager, Grant James, each episode brought together leading voices from across the UK and Europe to tackle the questions that matter most to growers, agronomists, and farm advisors working to build healthier, more resilient farming systems.
What we covered
We kicked off with Steve Townsend from Soil First Farming, who set the tone by explaining why chemistry, physics, and biology must work together for truly healthy soils. Steve’s insights into conservation agriculture and the role of BASE-UK in farmer-led knowledge exchange reminded us that sustainable change happens through community and shared learning.
Regen Ben opened the doors to his Herefordshire farm in Episode Two, showing us regenerative farming in action. His candid discussion about profitability, biodiversity gains, and how Sea2Soil fits into his system across cereals, potatoes, and agroforestry proved that regenerative practices and commercial success can go hand-in-hand.
In Episode Three, James Warne from Soil First Farming introduced us to the concept of ‘underground livestock’, exploring how feeding soil microorganisms is just as crucial as feeding the crops above ground. His practical advice on boosting microbial activity gave listeners tangible steps to improve soil health from the ground up.
Joel Williams delivered a masterclass in Episode Four, breaking down the science of amino acids and soil conditioners. His expert knowledge on application timing, particularly heading into autumn, offered invaluable guidance for growers looking to enhance soil fertility and build long-term productivity.
Episode Five took us to Claydon Farms with Simon Revell, where we explored two years of Sea2Soil trials alongside the Claydon Opti-Drill System. Simon’s insights into establishment technology, soil structure, and upcoming Net Zero trial work with Nottingham University showed the exciting direction farm innovation is heading.
We closed the season with Marian Dichevski, who gave us a window into farming in Bulgaria and across Europe. Marian’s perspective on climate challenges, drought conditions, and the growing need for products like Sea2Soil in European markets reminded us that soil health is a global conversation.
The bigger picture
Running through every episode, however, was a commitment to practical, implementable knowledge. These weren’t theoretical discussions. They were field-based insights from people working directly with soils, facing real challenges and finding real solutions that are already working in their fields.
Whether you’re exploring regenerative practices for the first time or fine-tuning an established hybrid system, this podcast season offered something for everyone.
To our guests: thank you for your time, your expertise, and your willingness to share openly about both successes and challenges. Your contributions have created a resource that will support farmers and advisors for seasons to come.
To everyone who listened, subscribed, and shared episodes: thank you for being part of this community. The feedback we’ve received has been genuinely encouraging, and it’s clear these conversations are resonating with people working to farm better, smarter, and more sustainably.
What’s next?
All six episodes remain available to stream on Spotify and watch on YouTube. If you missed any along the way, now’s the perfect time to catch up. Each episode stands alone, so dive in wherever your interests lie.
As for what comes next, watch this space. The conversations around soil health and regenerative farming are far from over, and we’re committed to continuing to bring expert voices and practical insights to the community. 2026 is already looking very exciting…
Terrafarmer-run farm trials, funded through an Innovate UK research project, are testing and comparing a range of different biological stimulants applied to grassland. Results so far have shown their potential to reduce inputs and improve grass quality.
How has Sea2Soil performed?
Sea2Soil fish hydrolysate delivers a wide range of plant-available amino acids, macronutrients and trace elements to both the crop and soil. Sea2Soil performed very highly in all trial measurements taken, including giving increases in kilograms of dry matter (DM)/ha, crude protein, trace element availability, and microbial biomass, when compared with a control treatment.
According to regenerative agronomist and soil consultant Will Marris at Terrafarmer, a number of products tested (including Sea2Soil) are improving crude proteins and sugar. “If that goes into a silage clamp, you’ve got more sugars for the fermentation process. If you get a better fermentation, you get better-quality forage.”
Out of 7 biological product treatments tested in the trials (over 7 different farm sites), Sea2Soil ranked No.1 and performed highest for crude protein improvement (at 136.225 g/kg) compared to all other products and the control treatment. Sea2Soil also ranked No.3 out of all treatments for improving microbial biomass in mid-season assessments taken. Each farm trial site used large 20 x 160m strips to test all treatments and baseline analysis measurements were taken for all products tested for comparative purposes.
Sea2Soil fish hydrolysate, as a naturally high source of protein and carbohydrate, is a perfect choice for improving soil biology. “By feeding the beneficial underground livestock in the soil i.e. the bacteria and fungi, these in turn are helping with the mobilisation of vital trace minerals such as boron, manganese, and magnesium,” says Grant James, Business Development Manager, Sea2Soil.
Soil, leaf, and forage tests from the trials show more of those nutrients being readily plant-available moving from the soil into the leaf, and therefore into the forage. “This could even reduce the need to supplement trace minerals given to livestock through licks or drenches,” suggests Will.
How biologicals like Sea2Soil work to benefit plants
Traditional fertilisers such as urea or ammonium nitrate prills have an efficiency rate of about 50%. By contrast, solubilised and foliar-applied alternatives can be almost twice as efficient, so less nitrogen is needed. “If foliar nitrogen is applied with biologicals such as molasses, fish hydrolysate, and fulvic acid, nitrogen use efficiency is improved, as you’re applying plant-available nitrogen to the leaf, which is a more direct route into the plant. That’s safer for the plant, but also beneficial and safer for the soil,” explains Will. “You’re feeding the plant and the soil at the same time, and the nitrogen doesn’t get lost via volatilisation or tied up in the carbon and nitrogen cycles in the soil.”
By applying biological and soluble fertilisers like Sea2Soil, farmers can build soil function and fertility, carbon and organic matter, all generally at reduced cost. “Biologicals are inherently more sustainable than a manufactured synthetic nitrogen source,” continues Will. “We’re not saying don’t use any, just try to use a bit less and make it more efficient.”
Valuable cost savings being realised
Using biological and foliar fertilisers can also bring significant cost savings. For example, a grass-based, multicut system might use 250kg/ha of nitrogen. Based on a standard urea application, using a 46% urea product, at a cost of 46p/kg, the cost would be £115/ha. Will explains: “Where we have added in two biological products, molasses and fish hydrolysate (Sea2Soil), to the foliar nitrogen mix, we had a saving of £5/ha,” he says. “A total cost of £110/ha to get a more efficient form of nitrogen into the plant, while reducing nitrogen use by 20%, is quite significant – and you’re feeding the soil.” He adds that nitrogen application rates can, over time, be reduced even further.
“You could easily reduce inputs starting at 25% to 50%, but that wants to be done over a few years in a managed reduction,” he advises. In addition, there is the potential for farmers to save on inputs such as mineral supplements because of the improved flow of nutrients from soil to forage with Sea2Soil and other biologicals.
Timing of application is important
The time of day and weather conditions can make a significant difference to the effectiveness of biologicals and foliar nitrogen, Will says: “If you’re looking at foliar nitrogen plus biologicals, it’s important to time your application right. Early in the morning is a good time, because that’s when the stomata are open.”
He adds that in the morning, especially, the plant will not be overly stressed, so is better at taking in the product, leading to greater efficiencies. While temperature is an important consideration, UV index and humidity should be considered first when applying biological fertilisers and foliar applications.
“When you have a high UV index, the plant is conserving moisture, and it’s not going to want to take in any nutrition,” says Will. “So the biological fertiliser or soluble nitrogen will sit on the leaf and can scorch or burn it, particularly if you’ve got urea in there. It’s best to apply these when the UV index is low and humidity is high. Humidity means moisture, and that means stomata are open to take in these products.”
Sea2Soil recommends applying the product to grassland in 2 or 3 split applications in early spring, mid-spring and late-spring or early summer, and it is also worth taking into consideration grazing cycles as well, so product application is timed around those periods, as Grant explains: “For grassland and herbal leys, applying Sea2Soil at 10 L/ha just before the start of the active spring growth period sets a good baseline and then follow-up with at least one repeat application in May.”
Multiple Sea2Soil foliar applications of 5-10 L/ha can be made in the season up to 3-6 times a year, and Terrafarmer trials work is showing that a ‘little but often’ approach to applications can work well in many grassland situations.
For more information about trials work with Sea2Soil or about using the product this season, please contact Grant James directly.
T: 07976 879646
Acknowledgments: Sea2Soil would like to acknowledge Terrafarmer Innovate-UK trials work and
FW / FWi 04 Nov 2025 article ‘Biological Stimulants: Are they good for grassland?’, read the full article here.
Keeping winter crops healthy to set up well for early spring 2026 looks to be even more vital this season given the very rapid establishment and initial crop growth around UK farms this autumn.
Winter crops including cereals, oilseeds and pulses have established extremely well on the whole this season in response to being drilled into good seedbeds, with sufficient moisture and relatively mild temperatures, which encouraged rapid germination and early growth conditions.
This pronounced early growth and extra plant biomass that many crops now have will need careful subsequent management over the coming winter period, especially as they head into early spring next year. Forward crops can very easily suffer as they come out of winter if sufficient nutrition, a healthy soil environment and soil microbiome is lacking.
A critical stage for crop growth and development, ensuring good soil health and correct plant nutrition before the onset of new spring growth will be essential to enhance and protect yields and profitability. All in the hope of avoiding a repeat of lower yielding crops in 2025.
Of course, we cannot predict what the weather will do next year but, experience tells us that increasing the health and resilience of our soils, through use of soil amendments like Sea2Soil, is getting more important each year as we see changing climatic patterns. Helping crops through difficult periods and extremes of drought, heat or flooding is a part of farm management that is becoming more vital.
“Feeding the soil is part and parcel of feeding the crops. Ensuring good soil health by applying Sea2Soil in early spring feeds the underground livestock in our soils, fostering beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and protozoa, and earthworms, which in turn help support more resilient crops,” says Grant James, UK Business Development Manager, Sea2Soil.
Split applications of Sea2Soil are recommended for all winter crops in both early autumn and early spring. This coincides with some of the most important periods in a crop’s life, where the first 30-60 days help a crop establish, develop shoots and roots in autumn before the main phase of growth and development in the crop kicks in during the early spring, once soil and air temperatures begin to rise after winter.
“Sea2Soil promotes a biologically active soil substrate, so the soil has better aeration, can retain moisture and releases nutrients in a bio-available form to plants, contributing to better stress tolerance in plants and promoting healthy growth of crops,” explains Grant James.
Cereal crops in particular can be vulnerable at these key stages if sufficient nutrition and soil health is not in place in soils to support them. Application of Sea2Soil is versatile and can be combined with other inputs such as early T0 spring fungicides, early spring herbicides or other crop nutrition applications.
Sea2Soil fish hydrolysate is a versatile soil improver that can be utilised by both the soil microbiome and the plant directly and contains a full range of naturally balanced amino acids and fatty acids. Rich in essential macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the product also provides vital micronutrients like calcium, magnesium and other trace elements in a bioavailable formulation, establishing a good basis for any crop nutritional plan. All these nutrients play a critical role in plant growth and development phases in the spring, flowering and yield-set. Helping the soil early this spring really will help the crops deliver healthier growth, yields and quality.
To find out more about early spring applications of Sea2Soil in either winter crops or ahead of establishing spring crops, please contact Grant James:
T: 07976 879646
In Episode six of The Sea2Soil Podcast, Grant sits down with Bulgarian grower and agribusiness expert, Marian Dichevski, to talk about farming through drought, making pragmatically regenerative choices, and where biology‑centred nutrition fits in a modern system.
Across Bulgaria - and much of Eastern Europe - farms often span hundreds to thousands of hectares. In recent years, drought and heat have tightened their grip, putting staple crops like wheat, maize, and sunflower under pressure. It is pushing growers to rethink established practices and look for resilient, biology‑friendly ways to keep crops performing.
Marian’s view is clear: avoid swinging from full conventional to full no‑till overnight. Trial changes field by field. Where soils are tight or stratified, minimum or strip till can open the door for roots and biology without overworking the ground. Cover crops have a role, but only where moisture budgets allow. The brief is simple: choose the right tool, at the right time, for your soil.
Key takeaways:
Post‑war agriculture leaned heavily on synthetic fertilisers. Marian argues that over‑reliance can dilute plant sap, lower brix, and open the door to pests and disease - especially in dry years. A biology‑first approach focuses on feeding microbes and supplying nitrogen in the forms plants can use with less energy cost.
What that means in practice:
Marian highlights the role of fish hydrolysate as a practical, biology‑forward input. Applied in‑furrow at drilling or as a timely foliar, amino acid‑rich nutrition supports early root development, feeds microbial life, and can help reduce the plant’s energy burden compared with nitrate‑heavy programmes.
Potential benefits:
When moisture is scarce, every input concentrates faster in the soil. Keeping biology alive and roots exploring is non‑negotiable. That means gentle soil movement, smart residue management, and nutrition that plants can metabolise efficiently.
Practical pointers for dry seasons:
Marian brings grounded, real‑farm context to a challenge many growers share: producing consistent crops when water is the true limiting factor. If you’re weighing up cultivations, cover crops, and biology‑first nutrition, this episode is for you.
Tune in to Episode Six on Spotify and YouTube, launching on Thursday, 23rd October at 10am.
Autumn has arrived in the UK, and with it we’ll no doubt be flooded with all too familiar headlines: fields under water, roads washed out, crops lost to flooding. With extreme weather events becoming more common, farmers are being asked to balance two seemingly opposite threats: drought in summer and waterlogging in autumn and winter.
But the solution to both may lie beneath our feet.
As Simon Revell from Claydon Drills explained in our latest podcast episode, soil health isn’t just about crop nutrition. Healthy, well-structured soils are more resilient:
It sounds like a paradox - how can soil both hold more water and let it in faster? The answer lies in biology and structure.
When soils are left undisturbed and enriched with organic matter, earthworms, microbes, and roots create stable aggregates and natural pore spaces. These improve:
In contrast, compacted or over-cultivated soils lack structure. They crust, repel water, and leave fields vulnerable to both erosion and standing floods.
With the Environment Agency warning of increased flood risk this winter, improving soil health is more urgent than ever. Some proven strategies include:
These practices don’t just prevent crop losses - they also build long-term resilience, reduce input reliance, and contribute to climate adaptation goals.
Whether it’s three weeks of drought at 30°C or three days of relentless rain, farmers across the UK are facing conditions that put soils under pressure. But as Simon put it, “Healthy soil can hold more humidity in the soil, and it can absorb more quickly.”
The farms that invest in soil health today are the ones that will weather tomorrow’s storms - literally.
Hear more insights from Simon Revell of Claydon Drills in our latest Sea2Soil Podcast episode: [Listen now]
In this episode, Grant talks with Simon Revell from Claydon Drills about their expertise and interest in improving soil health for growers through better establishment using the Claydon Opti-Drill System.
Also being discussed and explored is the ongoing trials work with Sea2Soil on Claydon Farms, now coming to the end of its second year, including the latest observations from this season before harvest.
Finally, Simon gives listeners a fascinating insight into soil management, the health of soils and climate challenges faced on farms right across Europe.
The audio and video podcast will give listeners and viewers a great technical understanding of how establishment technology in the Claydon system, incorporating the use of a straw harrow, alongside soil improvers like Sea2Soil, can help improve vital aspects around soil structure, soil organic matter and soil fertility. Leading to better crop nutrition and yields, as well as protecting crops against adverse growing conditions.
Watch on Youtube or listen on Spotify.
In this episode of the Sea2Soil Podcast, we take to the field - literally. Grant James sits down with Simon Revell, Export Manager for Claydon Drills, to discuss over 20 years of innovation, soil-first farming, and the role of natural soil improvers in shaping a sustainable future.
Recorded on a breezy July morning in front of Claydon’s long-running trial plots, the conversation explores the journey from profit-driven direct drilling to the wider environmental benefits now being realised on farms across the UK and Europe.
Simon explains how the Claydon system - refining cultivation without turning the soil - has helped farmers reduce costs, protect soil biology, and build resilience against increasingly extreme weather. He shares insights into cover cropping, straw harrowing, and trials with Sea2Soil that show promising improvements in soil structure and microbial activity.
But it’s not just about machinery. The episode digs into the challenges of farmer mindsets, the slow but steady adoption of regenerative techniques, and the importance of partnerships between businesses, agronomists, and researchers. Together, these collaborations are helping to future-proof food production.
Looking ahead, Simon and Grant consider the bigger questions: What does sustainability really mean? How do we keep soils productive for generations to come? And how do we keep pushing boundaries, through seed breeding, trials, and innovative natural inputs, so that farming can thrive in the face of climate change?
This is a practical, honest, and hopeful discussion about soil health, sustainable farming systems, and why the future of agriculture depends on both innovation and collaboration.
Read all about what to expect from Episode 5 of the Sea2Soil Podcast, coming to YouTube and Spotify on October 9th at 10am.