Summary
This NIAB–DEFRA commissioned review, attributed to Ritz and colleagues (2022), examines the conceptual and empirical links between soil health measurement frameworks and food quality outcomes. It likely synthesises existing evidence on whether commonly used soil health indicators are predictive of, or meaningfully associated with, the nutritional and compositional quality of food crops. As a government-commissioned review, it would be expected to identify evidence gaps and offer recommendations relevant to UK agricultural policy and monitoring frameworks.
UK applicability
This review was commissioned by DEFRA and conducted under NIAB, making it directly relevant to UK soil policy, agri-environment schemes, and the development of soil health monitoring frameworks within England. Its findings would inform Sustainable Farming Incentive and Environmental Land Management scheme design.
Key measures
Soil biological indicators (microbial biomass, earthworm counts); soil chemical indicators (organic matter, pH, nutrient availability); food quality proxies (mineral content, nutritional composition); crop yield and quality metrics
Outcomes reported
The review examines the extent to which established and emerging soil health indicators (biological, chemical, and physical) relate to measurable food quality attributes, including nutritional composition and crop performance. It likely assesses the evidence base linking soil management practices to food quality outcomes.
Topic tags
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