Restoring health to the UK's soil
Who are we?
Springfield Agri is a not for profit organisation established by a group of dedicated individuals from the World of Business, Academia, Public Service, Science, Technology and Finance/Banking. Established after bringing together many years of scientific and practical research which sets out the issues and opportunities in the Farming and Eco systems.
It is clear to everyone whatever your perspective and attitude towards the changing environment – not just climate, but sustainability and regeneration, that there is a need for intervention and change in the way we work with nature itself.
Springfield Agri has established partnerships and real evidence for the right debate to bring about changes that can be painless and profitable for the farming community with benefits to all agencies affected by the issues we face today. Associated issues that need addressing are air quality, health and wellness, education, food quality and the traceability and nutritional values of that food.
Left unaddressed these big issues will become unmanageable and unchangeable.
Springfield Agri have begun working with all stakeholders to create and deliver solutions necessary to turn words into action. By the end of 2021 we expect our first practical application to be in use.
We will keep interested parties informed via our monthly newsletter, and a range of communications platforms, with our first virtual Conference planned for February 2021.
The Issues
- The Earth’s best carbon capture asset is not being fully utilised; THE SOIL.
- Globally CO2 levels are at record levels.
- As the soil’s ability to hold carbon reduces, so does its ability to absorb water. The impact of this is:
- a. Increased flooding
- b. Increased likelihood of drought
- c. Increase in irrigation and
- d. Loss of habitat.
- Three million tons of top soil are lost in the U.K. every year because of intensive agriculture. Organic matter in our soils is approximately 10% of what it should be. Loss of soil carbon costs the UK £3.21 Billion annually.
- Current farming practices have led to an estimation of only 60 harvests left in the UK soils and in 40 years maximum we will see the fundamental eradication of soil fertility.
- Current farming practises are responsible for this, especially intensive farming reliant on use of fossil fuel-based fertilisers.
- Intensive Farming is the most significant source of water pollution accounting for 25% phosphate, 50% Nitrates and 75% sediment.
- The UK is in danger of losing the ability to provide food for ourselves.
- The loss of biodiversity, caused by our current practise, has very serious consequences. 50% of farmland birds have disappeared from our farmland along with 75% of flying insects since 1970.
- The general public have a disconnect with where their food comes from and how it is produced.
- Poor food standards are a big contributor to ill health and obesity. The WHO have identified the links of climate change to health issues.
It’s all about Carbon
The Earth’s carbon is stored in five main areas: soil, oceans, atmosphere, biosphere and fossil deposits. Carbon flows between these five in an exchange called the carbon cycle. Currently the carbon is not balanced between these areas. There is too much carbon in the atmosphere, and not enough in our soils.
Even as we replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, too much carbon remains. To mitigate the worst effects of climate change, we must rapidly decrease the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
The major question is how can we redress the balance? We believe that major change can be achieved through Regenerative Agricultural processes and Land Management.
HOW WE TACKLE THE ISSUES...
Our Objectives
- RESTORE HEALTH TO THE UK’S SOIL
- Encourage and incentivise Agriculture’s return to regenerative farming
- Increase the carbon captured in the soil
- Create and introduce new income streams for farmers and landowners to adopt better practises.
- Create and encourage the use of technology through robotics, data measurement, validation tools etc.
- Increase land soil organic carbon from 0.5% to at least 4% by incentivised carbon capture
- Increase water holding capacity of managed land
- Increase biodiversity to pre-1970 levels
- Help create a data repository
- Inform how the environment can benefit health
- To work very closely with government at all levels, famers, landowners the food supply chain and the public to secure the positive change required
- Create a range of educational assets for the general public regarding food production and the countryside.
