What does healthy soil biodiversity and biological activity look like for different ecosystems and land management systems (for example, including agricultural, urban, semi-natural and peatland)?

Background

Question Group: Focused on safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural resources, its air, soils, land, water, plants and wildlife, by addressing the drivers of nature loss and environmental degradation. Emphasises restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of wild species, minimising of pollution, improving the management of invasive non-native species. Targets sustainable use of resources to support thriving communities, nature, and the economy in a changing climate.

Sub-questions: -How do we identify, understand and screen for known and unknown (emerging) contaminants in soils?
-How do we minimise contamination at the point where materials are applied to soils?
-What are the impacts of contaminants on the soil, biodiversity and the environment, and the wider risks to health and food safety?
-How can we better assess and understand the functional role of soil biodiversity (microorganisms e.g. fungi, microfauna, mesofauna and macrofauna) in ecosystems to aid restoration and resilience?

Next steps

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Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032

Related UKRI funded projects

Similar ARIs from other organisations

Achieving Net Zero How can the UK protect and increase its standing stock of organic carbon: trees, peat, soil, and salt marshes? How can these habitats most efficiently be distributed spatially given limited land and other needs (for example urban space, food production, recreation)? How can increases in carbon stocks be achieved while maximising co-benefits such as biodiversity, clean water, and nutrient balance? Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
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