ORGANIC SOIL IMPROVER: Providing a full nutritional profile for you soil to make it healthier and more productive
In Episode 4 of The Sea2Soil Podcast, Grant James is joined by Joel Williams, internationally respected soil health educator and founder of Integrated Soils. Together, they explore where soil conditioners fit into regenerative systems, the role of carbon-based inputs like fish hydrolysates, and the long-term gains farmers can expect when feeding both plants and soil biology.
In this conversation, we stumble onto the reawakening of farmers' interest in soil health, with Joel talking about the growing recognition of soil conditioners as a valuable tool. Products such as seaweed extracts and fish-based amendments not only provide nutrients but also stimulate soil biology with amino acids and other carbon-rich compounds - feeding microbes and plants alike.
A key message listeners will find in this episode is how rebuilding soil takes time. Joel emphasises that while farmers may see changes within 3–5 years, regeneration is a lifelong process of continual improvement. Inputs can help speed up the transition, but ultimately it’s about balancing nutrient offtake with sustainable inputs, while unlocking the reserves already stored in the soil.
Much as we have discussed in our recent blog post, timing is everything. When it comes to applying amino acids, Joel notes that living systems are always hungry for them - except during the depths of winter when growth slows. For autumn-sown crops, autumn is a particularly important window, as amino acids support early root establishment before dormancy. Spring and in-season applications also play a role in boosting nitrogen efficiency and protein synthesis.
From his work worldwide, Joel has seen many farmers comfortably reduce nitrogen inputs by 20–30%, with pasture systems sometimes cutting their inputs by up to 50%. The key is replacing reactive inorganic nitrogen with more stable, carbon-based organic forms. These not only reduce losses to leaching and off-gassing but also improve nitrogen use efficiency, allowing plants to produce more biomass per unit of input.
For farmers looking to begin their regenerative journey, Joel recommends starting with the five soil health principles: minimise disturbance, keep soils covered, maintain living roots, integrate livestock, and embrace diversity. Growing plants - whether through cover crops or perennial phases - is central to feeding soil biology. From there, organic amendments and bio-stimulants can be used to kickstart the system, while reducing practices that harm soil life.
As Joel concludes, it’s about “doing less of the baddies and more of the goodies” - a simple but powerful principle for anyone serious about long-term soil health.
Find out more about Episode 4 of The Sea2Soil Podcast with Joel Williams, landing on September 25th.
Healthy soil equals healthy crops. That’s the simple truth at the heart of Sea2Soil’s mission – and it’s the focus of our brand-new podcast series, The Sea2Soil Podcast. Hosted by Sea2Soil’s Grant James, the series dives deep into soil biology, soil health, and the regenerative practices that are transforming agriculture around the globe.
In our very first episode, Grant sits down with Steve Townsend of Soil First Farming, a leading consultancy helping farmers reduce costs and boost profitability through conservation agriculture and improved soil management. Steve brings decades of hands-on experience, guiding farmers through the transition from conventional methods to regenerative systems that put soil biology at the centre of farm success.
What you’ll hear in Episode 1
Steve also shares insights from farmer-to-farmer knowledge networks like BASE UK, highlighting the power of community learning when adopting new approaches.
Why start listening to this podcast?
Grant James explains: “At the end of the day, if we don’t have healthy soil, we don’t have healthy crops. Through these conversations, I want to help farmers and growers understand their soil biology – and show that small changes can have huge benefits for productivity and sustainability.”
Listen to the Episode
Listen to Episode 1: Rethinking Soil for a More Profitable Future
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