Soil Matters

Professor Jack Hannam, former President of the British Society of Soil Science (2023–2024) and now Head of the Agriculture, Health and Environment Department at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, joins the conversation with deep expertise in soil systems and global environmental policy. Having represented the sector at international forums including COP29 and the UN Conventi...

Part 1 – Professor Paul Hallett: Leading the Society & Evolving the Discipline The episode opens with an in‑depth interview with Professor Paul Hallett , President of the British Society of Soil Science and Professor of Soil Physics at the University of Aberdeen. Paul reflects on his unexpected route into soil science, shaped by environmental awareness, academic mentors, and early hands‑on fieldwo...

Guests Marioldy Sanchez Santivanez, Kleily Vargas and Jhon Guimaraes offer a compelling look into the deep-rooted relationship between indigenous communities and the land—revealing how traditional knowledge, community governance, and a commitment to ecological balance have sustained landscapes for generations. Listeners will discover how indigenous farming practices—guided by ancestral understandi...

In this special two part edition of Soil Matters , host Paul Lincoln explores how centuries of Indigenous knowledge are shaping modern approaches to soil health and sustainable land management across Africa. In part 1, joined by three inspiring guests— Divine Ntiokam (Global Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network), Jemimah Kutata (Maasai disability rights advocate and community leader), and Dr Aw...

What does it really mean to farm with nature, not against it? In this episode of Soil Matters , we dive deep into regenerative agriculture — exploring its principles, challenges, and potential to reshape the future of farming. Host, Paul Lincoln, is joined by broadcaster and BSSS Patron Kate Humble , farmer, Wildfarmed co-founder and musician Andy Cato , and soil scientist and BSSS President-Elect...

In this special on-location episode of Soil Matters, host Paul Lincoln and the British Society of Soil Science with the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT) visits Colt Park Meadows an experiment supported by ECT, situated within the heart of the Yorkshire Dales to explore one of the UK’s longest-running ecological experiments. Joined by Professor Richard Bardgett (Lancaster University) and Ben Sykes...

Soil Matters host, Paul Lincoln, is joined by Professor Jim Harris, Dr. Daniel Evans from Cranfield University, and Dan Lambeth, Trustee of the British Society of Soil Science, to explore the evolving concept of soil health and its far-reaching implications for science, technology, communication, and practice. Marking the 75th anniversary of the European Journal of Soil Science and its special cal...

Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that focuses on restoring and enhancing the health of the soil, enhancing ecosystems and also supporting the communities that sustain them. The practice emphasizes the regeneration of topsoil, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil. Key principles include minimal soil disturbance,...

In previous years, land contamination was seen as an impediment to making the most of a site. Groundbreaking new approaches to bioremediation have completely changed the approaches to reclaiming land and to realising its true worth. Speaking on behalf of the EBNet project, soil scientists Professor Frederic Coulon and Professor Tony Gutierrez, outline their current research and their plans for the...