The aim was to bring science closer to citizens while addressing a major societal challenge of our times – loss of biodiversity. The loss of soil biodiversity is degrading our most important natural resource, our soil, and is the reason we chose a focus on the biodiversity beneath our feet.

As farmers on the ground, we understand that the soil is at the beginning and end of almost all farm processes and is a vital resource, not only for our farms, but also for the health and nutrient quality of the food we produce.  We believe it is vital that farmers take an active role in building a better understanding of soil in all its complexity – particularly regarding biological below ground diversity.

Building farmer and wider citizen understanding of the methods and options available for enhancing soil biodiversity is a first step in transitioning our farming to a model which builds soils and improves the quality of the food those soils produce. Above ground biodiversity is inextricably linked to the diversity of our soils, so starting with the soil is truly starting from the ground up.