Brits don’t have their ear to the ground in terms of knowing where their much-loved food comes from, reckons new research.
And despite almost all of what we eat being directly produced on soil, over two-thirds of us are even unsure of what the crucial organic matter consists of.
New findings from Yeo Valley Organic reveal that less than half of the British public (47 per cent) are unaware that nearly all our food is produced on soil, with 68 per cent even oblivious about what it is made up of.
And less than four in ten of us (36 per cent) are also unaware of the fact that soil plays a key role filtering our water, regulating the Earth’s temperature (35 per cent) and storing more carbon than the atmosphere, plants and forests combined (22 per cent).
Yeo Valley Organic’s new Save Our Soil initiative is urging the nation to wake up and take action and Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex, said: “When it comes to food production, soil really is one of the most crucial materials.
“It’s concerning that less than half of Brits are willing to make changes to protect soil, so I am fully behind Yeo Valley Organic’s initiative to help the nation learn how much we rely on soil and realise the positive impact it has on nature and our planet.
“There are so many ways Brits can help preserve soil in their gardens.”
Healthy soil is one of the most under-appreciated and little-understood wonders of the world and functions as a vital component of our ecosystem.
Its nutrient-dense minerals help things grow, filter and clean our water, regulate the atmosphere, and are fundamental for healthy food production.
And soil’s multiple benefits are front and centre of all the important work Yeo Valley Organic does on its farms, with the natural matter the foundation of its regenerative organic farming system and providing important nutrients to plants and supporting biodiversity.
Yeo Valley Organic are now encouraging the UK public to protect one of nature’s most biodiverse elements, launching the Save Our Soil initiative to shine a spotlight on the role it plays in farming and nurturing the environment.
The initiative aims to educate Brits to protect the rich material that supports regenerative organic dairy farming and the grass that Yeo Valley’s organic cows graze on.
Yeo Valley Organic are a champion of soil having superstar British status and Catriona Mantle, Senior Category Manager at the company, said: “Everything at Yeo Valley Organic starts with healthy soil – we could not produce our organic milk without it.
“As organic dairy farmers, we see ourselves as custodians of the land, which means we work hard to leave it better than we found it for future generations.
“This month, we’re encouraging Brits to educate themselves on the importance of soil and how organic products can contribute to protecting our natural resources by accessing our bank of helpful resources on our website and taking Dave’s tips on board.”
For more information visit: https://www.yeovalley.co.uk/
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