SoildiverAgro participated in the Northern Roots Forum held in Tallinn on January 22-23, 2025, at the Kultuurikatel. The event brought together 450 participants, including farmers, soil health experts, and agronomists from across Northern Europe. Our colleagues, Merrit Shanskiy from the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Roosi Soosaar from the NGO Soil Innovation Cluster, shared the results of the SoildiverAgro project at this insightful event.
During the forum, Merrit and Roosi presented findings from the SoildiverAgro project, including key insights from field tests conducted on Estonian farms. Their research highlighted the vital role of soil organisms, such as earthworms, insects, bacteria, and fungi, in nutrient cycling and maintaining ecosystem health. A detailed analysis of earthworm communities in Estonian trial fields revealed their significant contribution to soil structure and nutrient dynamics. Additionally, their exploration of tillage practices showed that no-till and minimal tillage systems can positively impact soil biodiversity.
One particularly intriguing aspect of their research was the spore sampler study, which demonstrated how monitoring airborne fungal disease spores every two hours can enable precise, targeted fungicide applications. This method can significantly reduce unnecessary pesticide use. The SoildiverAgro project’s findings emphasize the critical importance of soil biodiversity for sustainable agriculture, offering farmers actionable insights to improve productivity while safeguarding ecosystems.
The forum also featured presentations from prominent figures in sustainable agriculture, including Joel William, a passionate advocate for soil health; Grant Sims, a sixth-generation farmer and ambassador for regenerative agriculture; Anne Biklé, a science writer exploring the links between soil health and the health of crops, animals, and people; and Tom Robinson, a forward-thinking farmer committed to advancing soil health.
Presenting the SoildiverAgro results at the Northern Roots Forum was a key milestone in sharing the project’s findings with the agricultural community. As the forum is organized by farmers for farmers, it acts as a vital platform for exchanging knowledge and advancing regenerative agriculture practices throughout the Baltic and Nordic regions.
