Government does the groundwork

New soil strategy for Scotland launched as Europe ponders revamped plan

By Joe Watson

Published:

European officials are considering resurrecting a controversial soils directive that was thrown out by farm ministers six months ago.

News of the impending return of what is likely to be a dramatically changed document emerged yesterday in Aberdeen at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute as the Scottish Government launched a consultation on a new soil framework for Scotland.

The much-maligned European directive that drew the ire of several member states before it was ditched in December would have imposed a one size fits all approach to managing soils – and considerably added to the legislative burden – across Europe.

Scottish Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead said his government’s preference was not to impose new regulations on those who use soil.

It instead wanted to raise awareness of the steps they all need to take to protect it and encourage various different sectors to work together to ensure that happens.

He viewed the framework as an important first step in reducing the impact of erosion and contamination of soil. He highlighted too the potential to use the framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions from soil, while at the same time maintaining its productive capacity to produce food and protect the organic matter in earth.

The document also highlights the important role soil has in ensuring water quality and in helping flood management.

Macaulay head of soil science Professor Colin Campbell said European officials had only last week told him a new soils directive was on the agenda, albeit with a considerably different slant from that put forward previously.

Prof Campbell said Scotland’s soils were generally in good condition, particularly agricultural land.

He, however, warned soils were vulnerable to climate change, particularly peatlands which could dry up and release considerable quantities of damaging carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Mr Lochhead said the framework added to the water and air quality documents already launched by the government. The soil framework plan put the Scottish Government ahead of the rest of Europe and provided an example of the steps that should be taken as Scotland could not afford to be complacent about its soils.

Mr Lochhead added: “Pollution and climate change are putting renewed pressures on our soils and could, if not properly managed, significantly reduce our ability to grow crops and ensure Scotland’s long-term food security. This framework promotes a range of activities to manage soils, raise awareness and ensure soils are considered in planning and other decisions.”

NFU Scotland stressed the role farmers had in both managing soils to mitigate the impact of climate change and in producing food to feed the nation.