Essential Soil & Water Conference at the Allerton Project

THE importance of soils and water will be highlighted to farmers, researchers and policymakers at what promises to be a thought-provoking conference next month.

Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the two-day event will provide attendees with practical opportunities to learn about innovative ways to improve soil management as well as become informed about new scientific directions and methods in this specialist area.

It will be held on 13-14 February at the Trust’s Allerton Project in Loddington, Leicestershire, home to over 15 years of research that informs our understanding of soil and water on farms.

Soil is the essential component for farming and food production, but the way we live our lives and utilise the land has had a serious effect on this fundamental resource. Soil is a non-renewable resource, and is very quickly and easily damaged by poor management, taking many years to recover.

In the UK, 17% of arable soil already show signs of erosion, and 40% is considered at risk and this has an impact not only on our land, but our water too. Soil degradation and water pollution are closely linked and this relationship must be at the forefront of any practical solutions to either issue.

This event is the first time many leading experts in these fields have gathered to discuss not just their findings, but the practical applications what more need to be done to reverse declines in soil and water health.

Attendees will discuss the key questions on the issues, such as how we can farm profitably whilst encouraging healthy soils, clean water and biodiversity on farmland and what role policy and subsidies have in supporting these.