Soil is the foundation of agriculture, influencing everything from crop yields to carbon storage and ecosystem stability. However, the quality of soils has steadily declined over the years, shaped by practices like intensive farming, heavy use of chemicals and poor land management.
Our understanding of soil health has evolved. It’s no longer enough to look only at the chemical and physical properties, we now know that biology plays a big part too.
Beneath the surface, however, lies a less explored but increasingly promising avenue for restoration: the soil microbiome. This diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa, play an essential role in the health and vitality of our soils. Their ability to support soil fertility, plant growth, and environmental resilience suggests they could offer a more sustainable and long-term solution for regenerating soil health.
Why is soil health important?
A healthy soil supports plant growth, regulates water flow, stores carbon, and fosters biodiversity, making it fundamental to food production and environmental stability. Unlike the traditional view of soil as an inert medium, soil health recognises the dynamic interactions between its physical, chemical, and biological components.
1. Sustaining agriculture and food security
Healthy soils provide essential nutrients and water to crops while supporting beneficial microbes. When soil becomes degraded, yields decline, increasing reliance on fertilisers and threatening long-term food security.
2. Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services
Soil hosts a rich variety of organisms from bacteria and fungi to nematodes that cycle nutrients, break down organic matter, and suppress disease, helping maintain ecological balance.
3. Mitigating climate change
Soils act as a major carbon sink by storing organic matter, reducing atmospheric CO₂. Proper soil management enhances this capacity, contributing to climate resilience.
4. Regulating water and preventing erosion
Healthy soils absorb and retain water, filtering pollutants and reducing the risk of flooding, drought, and erosion supporting both agriculture and clean waterways.
5. Supporting human and animal health
Healthy soils produce nutrient-dense crops, which are essential for balanced human and animal diets. However, as soils become depleted, the nutritional value of our food may decline, an issue increasingly linked to rising health concerns.
The role of microbiomes in soil health
The soil microbiome, a rich community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms actively contribute to essential processes like nutrient cycling, soil structure improvement, and disease suppression.
Understanding the intricate relationships within the soil microbiome opens up new possibilities, offering a holistic and sustainable alternative for improving soil health. Here’s a closer look at some key ways the soil microbiome improves soil health:
1. Nutrient cycling
Microbes drive natural nutrient cycles by breaking down organic matter and making key elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium available to plants. Some even fix atmospheric nitrogen. These natural processes can complement external inputs, offering a more integrated and sustainable approach to soil fertility.
2. Improving soil structure & water retention
Microbial activity helps form stable soil aggregates, improving aeration, moisture retention, and resistance to erosion. This creates a healthier root environment and supports crops during dry conditions.
3. Enhancing disease suppression
Beneficial microbes act as natural biocontrol agents by outcompeting or inhibiting harmful pathogens. This supports stronger, more resilient crops and can reduce reliance on crop protection products, which are becoming less effective as pests develop resistance.
4. Detoxification of pollutants
Certain microbes can detoxify harmful substances like heavy metals and pesticides, helping to rehabilitate degraded land and safeguard environmental health.
5. Carbon sequestration & climate resilience
Microorganisms contribute to carbon sequestration by stabilising organic matter in the soil. This boosts long-term soil fertility and productivity.
Steps toward a microbiome approach
The growing awareness of soil degradation has brought much-needed attention to sustainable soil management, yet the role of microbiomes in this space is still emerging. While research has established that soil microbes are fundamental to nutrient cycling, soil structure, and plant resilience, their full potential remains largely untapped in agricultural systems.
A microbiome-focused approach presents an opportunity to shift from short-term interventions toward a more comprehensive, resilient strategy for soil health. Key recommendations include:
1. Soil monitoring and research
Region-specific data on microbial diversity and function are essential to guide tailored interventions and track changes over time.
2. Education and awareness
Clear, practical training and demonstration sites can help farmers, advisors, and policymakers confidently adopt microbiome-based practices.
3. Policy and regulatory support
Policies should promote microbial-friendly farming, and expand incentives for regenerative approaches that covers bare soils and restore natural soil functions.
4. Innovation and technology development
Tools like microbial inoculants, biodegradable biostimulants, and AI-driven soil sensors can make microbiome management more precise and accessible.
5. Cross-sector collaboration
Partnerships across research, industry, and government are essential to scale innovation and share knowledge effectively.
How can Fera support with this
Embracing a microbiome-first approach won’t just change how we farm, it will reshape how we think about soil, food, and our connection to the environment.
Fera is helping bridge the gap between research and real-world application, supporting growers, policymakers, and innovators to make soil health a central pillar of a sustainable future. Explore our case studies to discover how Fera experts have been supporting farmers in improving their soil health.