ORGANIC SOIL IMPROVER: Providing a full nutritional profile for you soil to make it healthier and more productive
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
At Sea2Soil, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to improving soil health or building a resilient farm system. Every field is different, every farm is different, every grower faces unique challenges - but one thing remains constant: the power of shared knowledge and practical insight.
That’s why we’ve launched The Sea2Soil Podcast - a brand-new series of honest, expert-led conversations diving deep into the world of soil health, regenerative farming, and sustainable agriculture.
Hosted by Grant James, Sea2Soil’s Business Development Manager and trusted voice in the farming community, the podcast brings together leading figures from soil consultancy, agronomy, regenerative farming, and more.
Each episode is designed to give you:
Sea2Soil is about more than just producing effective soil improvers - we're on a mission to support the transition toward healthier soils and better farm resilience. That means putting the right voices in the spotlight and creating space for conversations that matter.
We’ve been out in the field, not in the studio, recording episodes that speak to the real challenges and big opportunities in soil management today.
Each episode is packed with scientific knowledge, on-farm experiences, and practical tools to help you adapt, improve, and future-proof your soil health strategies.
Here’s a sneak peek at the first season lineup:
Episode 1: Steve Townsend - Why chemistry, physics, and biology must all work together for healthier soils
Episode 2: Regen Ben - Regenerative farming in action on a Herefordshire farm
Episode 3: James Warne - Feeding the ‘underground livestock’ and boosting microbial activity
Episode 4: Joel Williams - A masterclass on using amino acids to improve soil health
Episode 5: Simon Revell - What two years of trial work reveal about Sea2Soil and the Claydon System
Episode 6: Marian Dichevski - The future of regenerative farming across Europe
The Sea2Soil Podcast will be launching very soon across all major platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear new episodes and get behind-the-scenes updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Whether you’re knee-deep in your regen journey or just starting to explore new soil strategies, this podcast is here to support you. It’s time to hear from the people shaping the future of farming, with honest conversations that cut through the noise.
The Sea2Soil Podcast.
Expert insight, in your pocket.