How healthy soils can drive the Net Zero transition: 10 Recurring policy recommendations

Soil is more than just dirt beneath our feet, it is a vital resource for sustaining life, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. As the UK works towards achieving net zero emissions, soil carbon sequestration and soil health have emerged as critical factors in environmental and agricultural strategies.

Why soil health matters more than you think

Globally, land-use emissions make up about 14% of human-caused CO2 emissions, with agriculture accounting for 10%. But here’s the good news: soil can store massive amounts of carbon, making it an important player in achieving the UK’s net zero goals. While the oceans hold the largest overall reservoir of carbon on Earth (mostly in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon), soils are the biggest carbon sink on land. This makes them a critical component of the global carbon cycle.

Beyond carbon storage, healthy soil improves:

• 🌾 Crop resilience
• ⛔️ Erosion prevention
• 💧 Water retention

All essential factors in adapting to climate change.

Where are we in the net zero journey?

Soil carbon sequestration is already a recognised strategy in net zero plans, but action remains fragmented. While some policies encourage soil health improvements, stronger enforcement and financial incentives are needed. Additionally, investing in better soil monitoring frameworks would allow policymakers to track progress more effectively.

 The evidence

The compendium published on the LUNZ website brings together a decade of research, offering a comprehensive narrative on soil health and soil carbon. It compiles key insights and recommendations to support policymakers in integrating these critical elements into broader climate goals. For a deeper dive into the detailed insights and recommendations, you can explore the full document here.

The diverse set of policy recommendations collected from these sources can be consolidated into the ten core themes below.

 

Ten core strategies for soil and carbon sequestration  

🌱 Enhance Sustainable Soil Management

Healthy soils are the foundation of environmental resilience and productive agriculture. The recommendations emphasise:

• The promotion of practices that improve soil health and increase organic carbon, including reduced/no tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, organic amendments (e.g., compost, manure), and optimised nutrient management.
• The adoption of precision agriculture and nutrient planning to improve fertiliser use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

 

🌍 Restore and Protect Carbon-Rich Ecosystems

Soils, especially in peatlands, are among nature’s most effective carbon sinks. Key actions include:

• Prioritise the restoration, protection, and rewetting of degraded peatlands and other carbon‐rich soils.
• Prevent harmful practices (e.g., burning, inappropriate drainage) and remove non-native plantings that threaten peatland health.

 

🌳 Promote Woodland Creation and Agroforestry

Integrating trees into our landscapes not only sequesters carbon but also supports biodiversity:

• Support the establishment of new native woodlands and agroforestry practices (including hedgerows) on agricultural land to sequester carbon and provide wildlife habitats.
• Integrate woodland creation into land use planning in a way that minimises soil disturbance.

 

📊 Implement Robust Monitoring and Data Collection

Good decision-making relies on accurate, up-to-date information:

• Develop and fund comprehensive soil monitoring networks (using methods such as field sampling, GPS, LiDAR, and remote sensing) to track soil health, carbon stocks, erosion rates, and nutrient levels.
• Establish clear, measurable soil health and carbon sequestration indicators.
• Establishing clear benchmarks can guide future actions and adaptive management.

 

📜 Strengthen Policy Frameworks and Regulatory Measures

A solid policy environment is key to encouraging sustainable practices:

Develop national and regional soil strategies that integrate soil health and carbon sequestration targets into broader agricultural, environmental, and land use policies.

• Extend and refine existing regulations, including setting action thresholds and trigger values for soil indicators.

 

💰 Provide Financial and Technical Incentives  

Encouraging sustainable practices means offering both economic support and practical guidance:

• Design and implement funding mechanisms, subsidies, and incentive schemes (e.g., Environmental Land Management schemes) to support sustainable soil practices, peatland restoration, and woodland creation.
• Invest in infrastructure and technical support to assist farmers and land managers in adopting these practices.

 

🧪 Integrate Research, Innovation, and Stakeholder Engagement

Collaboration and ongoing learning are essential for long-term success:

• Support transdisciplinary research and applied studies to refine soil management practices and carbon sequestration techniques.
• Encourage collaboration among government bodies, research institutions, and stakeholders (including farmers) to build a robust, common evidence base and share best practices.

 

🗺️ Adopt Integrated Land-Use Planning Approaches

A holistic view of land use is vital for balancing multiple needs:

• Develop spatially explicit, coordinated land-use frameworks that consider multiple outputs (agricultural, environmental, social) and manage trade-offs.
• Integrate soil, water, and biodiversity objectives into catchment-scale and broader landscape management strategies.

 

🌾 Improve Nutrient Management

Effective nutrient management supports soil health and reduces greenhouse gas emissions:

• Create comprehensive nutrient management plans that match crop needs with the soil’s nutrient supply, making the best use of manure and organic inputs.
• Incorporate precision farming methods to minimize nutrient losses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

 

🔄 Focus on Resilience and Long-Term Adaptation

Building resilience ensures that our agricultural and natural systems can withstand future challenges:

• Implement measures to reduce soil degradation (erosion, compaction, contamination) and build ecosystem resilience to climate change.
• Plan for long-term soil health improvement through adaptive management strategies, ongoing monitoring, and regular updates to policies as new research becomes available.

These ten themes encapsulate a decade of rigorous research, offering a clear and concise overview of key strategies for enhancing soil health, promoting carbon sequestration, and supporting resilient ecosystems.

By adopting improved soil management practices, restoring vital ecosystems, monitoring progress, and integrating sustainable policies, we can work together to nurture our soils and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

👉 Explore the full evidence review here!

 

Licida Giuliani,
University of Aberdeen