On Monday 11th November, Yeo Valley Organic were delighted to host Dr Elaine Ingham and her colleagues for a tightly packed day, with insightful lectures and hands-on workshops all about soil.
Dr Elaine Ingham is the founder of Dr Elaine’s Soil Food Web School, whose mission is to empower individuals and organisations to regenerate the soils in their communities.
Widely recognised as the world’s foremost soil biologist, she has been researching the soil food web for over 40 years. Dr Ingham is passionate about empowering ordinary people to bring the soils in their community back to life.
Dr Elaine’s Soil Food Web Approach has been successfully used to restore the ecological functions of soils on six continents.
With all her expertise, we wanted to share some of what we learnt from Dr Elaine…
As we know, soil is so much more than just dirt – it’s a bustling ecosystem full of life. And at its heart is something Dr Elaine Ingham calls ‘the soil food web’.
What is the ‘soil food web’?
The ‘soil food web’ is a network of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and other organisms that work together to break down organic matter, cycle nutrients, and support plant growth. Understanding this web is key to improving soil health and building more sustainable, resilient farming systems.
Why soil diversity matters
A healthy soil food web relies on diversity. If we focus on just one type of organism or material—say, only adding compost or only promoting one kind of bacteria—we risk creating an imbalance. Healthy soil contains a wide range of organisms, all working together to keep the soil fertile and productive.
Rather than a one-way process, soil biology works in a continuous cycle. Healthy soil is all about balance—each organism has a role to play in keeping everything running smoothly.
Regenerative agriculture: working with nature
Regenerative agriculture is all about working with nature rather than against it. It focuses on restoring soil health, building biodiversity, and reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. The goal is a holistic system where soil, plants, and animals work together to create a thriving farm ecosystem.
Key principles of regenerative agriculture include:
- Soil health: healthy soil supports healthy plants.
- Climate resilience: healthy soils capture and store carbon, helping to fight climate change.
- Biodiversity: a diverse ecosystem is a healthy ecosystem.
- Reducing chemicals: shifting away from synthetic fertilisers and pesticides to natural, biological solutions.
- Continuous cycles: working with nature’s cycles to sustain the land long-term.
Taking small, deliberate steps to improve soil health is key. It’s not about quick fixes, but about understanding and nurturing natural processes over time.
The link between soil health and human health
The health of our soil is directly tied to the health of the food we eat. Soil that’s rich in organic matter and diverse in organisms produces nutrient-dense plants, which, in turn, provide better nutrition for humans. If we manage soil with care, it benefits not just the plants, but the entire ecosystem, including us.
Soil health is about balance – biology, physics, and chemistry all work together to create a thriving, productive system. Regenerative agriculture focuses on supporting this balance by reducing chemicals, increasing biodiversity, and nurturing the soil’s natural cycles. By making small, intentional changes in how we manage soil, we can build more resilient farming systems, healthier ecosystems, and ultimately a healthier planet.
The more we understand that we’re part of a larger, interconnected system, the easier it becomes to partner with nature and take care of the land.
Want to get involved?
We want to inspire and encourage others to join us regenerating our earth. We believe we can all have a positive impact on the world by coming together through small regenerative acts that make a big difference.