Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Colleen Ward.
Abstract
This presentation focuses on the monitoring of soil and land use in the UK, with a primary goal of supporting policy development and reporting obligations related to soil health and agricultural activities. The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) plays a key role, providing comprehensive field-scale data and risk run-off maps to farmers, aiming to drive behavioral changes to improve sustainability and water quality. The presentation highlights the extensive reach of SNHS, with sampling of up to 700,000 fields, along with long-term monitoring programs like the Countryside Survey and the Environmental Change Network (ECN). Looking ahead, there is a focus on integrating climate change factors, improving water quality, and collaborating on an all-Ireland basis for catchment management, especially in areas like the Lough Neagh Action Plan.