Summary
This paper, published in Soil Use and Management, reviews the relationship between soil function and food security, drawing on evidence of how degraded or poorly managed soils constrain agricultural productivity. It likely synthesises research on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and the management strategies — such as reduced tillage, organic matter additions, and crop rotation — that can restore or maintain soil function. The paper is expected to make a case for integrating soil health into food security policy and farm management frameworks.
UK applicability
As Soil Use and Management is a UK-based journal with a strong focus on British and European agricultural systems, and given the authorship pattern associated with A.S. Gregory (linked to Rothamsted Research), the findings are likely directly applicable to UK soil management policy and practice, including relevance to the post-Brexit agricultural transition and England's Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Key measures
Soil health indicators (e.g. soil organic matter, bulk density, biological activity); crop productivity; soil function metrics
Outcomes reported
The study likely examined how soil physical, chemical, and biological functions can be improved through land management to sustain crop productivity and food security. It probably reviewed evidence on soil degradation, soil health indicators, and management interventions relevant to sustainable food production.
Topic tags
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