BSSS Annual Conference
Sustainable Soils for People and Planet
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The conference is taking place at Glamorgan Cricket Club (Sophia Gardens).
View the abstract book for the conference
You can download a mobile version of the programme here
Day 1: 4 December 2024
[Soil Health]
Registration and Poster Set Up - 9:00am - 10:00am
Registration and Poster Set Up
9:00am – 10:00am
Sign in at the registration desk, collect and set up your poster (if applicable) and network with delegates before the conference begins.
Welcome and Opening Remarks - 10:00am - 10:15am
Welcome
10:00am – 10:15am
British Society of Soil Science
Policy Session - 10:15am – 11:15am
How to reconcile multiple demands for soil through land use and planning policy
10:15am – 11:15am (inc. 20 minute Q&A)
The soil policy session will provide an overview of the key activities being undertaken at a governmental level. Representatives from the devolved administrations will present on soil monitoring and management within their region, and highlight the measures being taken to protect our soils.
The panel includes:
– Rachel Boulderstone – DEFRA
– RJ Cooke – Welsh Government
– Sarah Buckingham – Scottish Government
– Colleen Ward – AFBI (NI)
(Chair – Jack Hannam, BSSS)
Rachel Boulderstone - DEFRA
Rachel Boulderstone heads up the Soil Health and Contaminated Land policy team within the General Environment Directorate of Defra. Rachel has led on soils for the last four years, but with over 20 years’ service at Defra on a wide range of policy areas including waste management, flood management, sustainable drainage systems, environmental targets and now soils. In particular, developing policy for the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the Agriculture Act 2020 and the Environment Act 2021, the Environment Improvement Plan as well as numerous secondary legislation amendments.
Rachel has a particular interest in surface water flooding due to soil erosion and compaction on both agricultural and urban soil and promotes the importance of encouraging the right practices relevant to soil type and land use that support production, environment and biodiversity.
RJ Cooke – Welsh Government
RJ Cooke leads the Peatland, Soil and Agricultural land Use Planning team within the Environmental Sustainability Directorate of Welsh Government. He has led on the development of the National Peatland Action Programme since 2019.
His wider team covers a wide range of evidence, policy and technical advice including the Soil Policy Evidence Programme, development of a Soil Policy Statement for Wales, and representing soils through the planning systems in Developments of National Significance and mineral extraction cases.
Sarah Buckingham - Scottish Government
Dr Sarah Buckingham – Senior Consultant, SAC Consulting and Research Fellow, Scottish Government
Sarah is a senior consultant with SAC Consulting (part of Scotland’s Rural College) with expertise in sustainable land management practices for soil health, soil carbon sequestration and agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation. Sarah has 12 years soil research experience before joining SAC Consulting’s Environment Team in 2022. Sarah is currently on secondment to Scottish Government (June 2024- March 2025) working with the Climate Change Adaptation Team on a ClimateXChange funded fellowship called “Securing Scotland’s Soils in a Changing Climate” which aims to develop a routemap for supporting the protection of soil across Scotland.
Colleen Ward
Colleen Ward is a Project Manager at Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute in Belfast with 15 years’ experience working on various national and EU funded projects to delivery on research and policy objectives in areas of water quality, oceanographic monitoring and soil management. She was involved in the delivery of a soil sampling pilot scheme recommended as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy for Northern Ireland and now manages delivery of the region wide Soil Nutrient Health Scheme.
Oral Presentation Session 1 - 11:45am – 12:45pm
Soil Health Presentations (1)
11:45am – 12:45pm (inc. Q&A)
Soil Health abstracts – invited speakers
Amber Lounge
Soil Health Presentation Session 1
Soil Health Presentations (1)
Duncan Rose – Environmental Impact Assessment of Soils and Agricultural Land – Application of the IEMA Guidance [11:45am]
Jessica Potts – Maximising the re-use of soil resources: delivering ecosystem services and biodiversity on major construction projects [12:00pm]
John Nightingale – UK-Wide Assessment of Organic Contaminant Residues in Agricultural Soils Following Biosolid and Manure Amendments: A Comprehensive Monitoring Study [12:15pm]
Aslihan Benlioglu – Quantification and Identification of Microplastics in English and Welsh Soils: A Study Using Nile Red Staining and Laser Direct Infrared Methods [12:30pm]
Parallel Session 1 - 11:45am - 12:45pm
Parallel Sessions – Eijkelkamp and CPL Puragen
11:45am – 12:45pm
Session 1 (11:45-12:15) – Royal Eijkelkamp – Soil Health Monitoring for Climate Adaptation
Session 2 (12:15-12:45) – CPL Puragen – PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ – Search, Capture & Destroy
Parallel Rooms
Royal Eijkelkamp
Soil Health Monitoring for Climate Adaptation [11:45am]
As climate change intensifies, with increasing droughts, heatwaves, and extreme weather events, soil health has emerged as a critical factor in building resilient land use systems. Healthy soils not only support sustainable crop production but also enhance water retention, improve carbon sequestration, and strengthen ecosystem resilience. This presentation explores the pivotal role of soil health monitoring in climate adaptation strategies highlighting innovative soil health monitoring techniques especially in the field of soil life and water holding capacity.
At Royal Eijkelkamp, we are convinced of the importance of a healthy soil and care for soil life. Since 1911, we have been dedicated to soil research. And in recent years, the focus of our initiatives has shifted to sustainability: how can we contribute to reducing the burden on our planet? With our solutions we hope to offer our clients the tools they need to protect and improve this invaluable resource.
Bob Klein Lankhorst
Expert in soil health and sustainability, with a focus on innovative technologies that help land managers better understand and improve soil health
CPL Puragen - PFAS
[12:15pm]
PFAS (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances) is a chemical family consisting of at least 15,000 individual compounds. They are sometimes referred to as ‘forever’ chemicals because of their persistence in the environment. These compounds, which are now known to pose serious health risks for humans and animals, have been widely used in industry since the 1950s, for products including non-stick cookware, firefighting foams, food packaging and fabric coatings. This session will outlie the use of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of PFAS from air, soil and water, together with the use of advanced and award-winning thermal reactivation for the safe destruction of the PFAS contaminants and the sustainable recycling of the GAC.
David Reay is Head of Strategic Partnerships for CPL/Puragen Activated Carbons. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and has enjoyed a varied and interesting commercial career in a number of industrial sectors, including chemicals, automotive and aerospace. He has held senior strategy/marketing roles in the activated carbon industry for over 16 years and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He is passionate about environmental issues and is an experienced public speaker. He particularly enjoys communicating the numerous applications and benefits of activated carbon purification technology.
Lunch - 12:45pm – 1:35pm
LUNCH ANd Venue Tour
12:45pm – 1:35pm
During the break at 1:10pm, there will be the opportunity to go on a tour of the grounds and have a short presentation on its development and soils.
Led by Robin Saxton, the Head Sports Turf Manager at Glamorgan Cricket Club and BSSS Member, Alex Vickers, MI Soil Sci.
Venue Tour and Presentation
Register for this on arrival
There will be an informal tour of the cricket ground with a discussion of the outfield reconstruction project and the finer points of managing cohesive soils to produce international standard cricket pitches with the associated playability characteristics for the highest level of cricket. The outfield element will consider the issues around the reconstruction and drainage of the outfield which necessarily had to take place over late autumn and winter in South Wales, an area not renowned for its dry weather. Robin Saxton, the Head Sports Turf Manager at the stadium will lead the discussion on the management and preparation of pitches to ICC and ECB First Class standards and Alex Vickers, MI Soil Sci, will lead the discussion of the outfield reconstruction project.
BSSS Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) - 1:35pm - 1:45pm
BSSS EGM
1:35pm – 1:45pm
British Society of Soil Science EGM to elect various committee members.
Soil Health and Agriculture - 1:45pm - 2:30pm
Securing the Future of Food Production – Innovative approaches to soil health and sustainable agriculture
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Abi Reader, NFU Cymru Deputy President
Richard Anthony, Tythegston Farm, member of NFU Cymru Combinable Crops Working Group
Dr Non Williams, Carbon Specialist Officer, Farming Connect
[Chair – Lizzie Sagoo]
Synopsis
Good soil health is crucial to our farming systems, providing the essential medium to grow our food and the foundation for our varied landscapes. Soils also deliver many wider benefits including sequestration and storage of carbon, diverse ecosystems, regulation of water and resilience to climate change. But our soils continue to face challenges. The impacts of climate change are already being felt and are set to increase the threats to soil health such as erosion and loss of organic matter. This session focuses on the proactive work farmers and growers are doing to improve soil health. It looks at the benefits of good soil management, and the challenges and opportunities that farmers face in protecting and enhancing our soil while producing climate-friendly food.
Abi Reader
Newly elected 2022 NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader at NFU headquarters, Agriculture House, Kenilworth, England, United Kingdom on March 01, 2022. Credit: Lawrence Looi / NFU[/caption]Abi Reader is a third generation mixed farmer, farming in partnership with her parents and uncle in Wenvoe just outside Cardiff. Goldsland Farm is home to 200 milking cows, 100 sheep, 20 beef cattle and 120 acres of arable. The farm has also recently started an Agroforestry trial site and set up a small scale horticulture venture. Abi is the current NFU Cymru deputy president, co-founder of Cows on Tour, an Open Farm Sunday host and Woman Farmer of the Year 2024 with National Women in Agriculture Awards. In 2019 Abi was awarded an MBE by the Queen for Services to Agriculture.
Richard Anthony
Richard Anthony and family farm 3,000 acres of arable and grass with a flock of 800 ewes. A pioneer of sustainable intensification, Richard’s focus on soil management has seen yields increase by 25-30% and the earthworm population tenfold. Soil structure and fertility have been improved through no-till direct drilling, and minimum tillage, cover crops and companion planting of spring beans and purple vetch to fix nitrogen and buck wheat to mine phosphate for oilseed rape. As well as helping with increasing soil organic matter this helps deterring flea beetle and pigeons. Insecticides haven’t been used for three years. He continues to develop regenerative systems, favouring natural solutions over chemical inputs, resulting in a farm rich in wildlife including rare yellow wagtails and turtle doves.
Dr Non Williams
Dr Non Williams has significant experience of the agricultural industry, from an employment, research and personal perspective. She works for Mentera as the Carbon Specialist Officer for Farming Connect (Welsh Government funded Knowledge Transfer Programme for Farmers and Land Owners). Non is responsible for developing, implementing and leading on numerous innovative projects within her area, which includes Farming Connect’s Pan-Wales Welsh Soil Project.
Synopsis – An insight into project work undertaken across Farming Connect’s ‘Our Farms’ Network – a focus on innovation and new technologies to help build farm resilience and sustainability
Meet the IUSS President-Elect - 1:45pm - 2:30pm
Meet the new IUSS President-Elect, Bruce Lascelles
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Parallel Rooms
Oral Presentation Session 2 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Soil Health Presentations (2)
2:30pm – 3:30pm (inc. Q&A)
Soil Health abstracts (2) invited speakers
Amber Lounge
Soil Health Presentation Session 2
Soil Health Presentations (2)
John Langley-Randall – Biochar – Is biochar effective for improving soil quality in a UK context? [2:30pm]
Naomi Rintoul-Hynes – Soil degradation from the Russia-Ukraine conflict: A field study [2:45pm]
Maya Sollen-Norrlin – Assessing the impacts of farm management practices on orchard soil biodiversity [3:00pm]
Marta Cattin – The Impact of Over Winter Cover Crops on Soil Health in Northern England [3:15pm]
Oral Presentation Session 2 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Soil, Social science and culture Presentations
2:30pm – 3:30pm (inc. Q&A)
Soil, social science and culture abstracts
Parallel Rooms
Soil, Social science and culture Presentations
Soil, Social Science and Culture Abstracts
Jo Pearl – Animating Soil Health: Breathing Life into Soil, Campaigning through Stopmotion Film & Ceramics [2:30pm]
Daro Montag – Visualising soil as living organism [2:45pm]
Non Williams – Strengthening bridges between academic research and agricultural practice – taking Welsh farmers with us on the soil carbon journey [3:00pm]
Megan Hudson – For Peat’s Sake – can we use local expert knowledge to generate new land management opportunity maps in lowland peat landscapes? [3:15pm]
Poster Session 1 - 3:45pm - 4:30pm
Soil Health Poster Presentations
3:45pm – 4:30pm
Amber Lounge and Catering Room
Parallel Session 2 - 3:45pm - 4:30pm
European Journal of Soil Science – Celebrating 75 Years
3:45pm – 4:30pm
EJSS Editor – Professor Jenni Dungait
Parallel Rooms
Synopsis
Join Jenni Dungait and the editorial team to celebrate the 75th anniversary of EJSS. Jenni will be speaking about the key achievements of EJSS and also discuss the future direction of the journal. Jenni and the Team will then join you in a celebration of the journal and there may even be some cake!
Soil Health and Planning - 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Recognition of soil health and function in planning and Environmental Impact Assessment
4:30pm – 5:15pm (inc. Q&A)
Martina Girvan, Natural Capital Community of Practice Lead at Arcadis
Aydin Zorlutuna, UK Director of Landscape, Materplanning and Urbanism at Arcadis.
Mark Nason, Head of Professional Practice at the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
[Chair – Liv Hoyland]
Synopsis
Soils have historically been under-valued and as a result have been damaged, degraded and even disposed of to landfill as a result of construction activities. Recent advances, such as publications by BSSS, IEMA and the Soils in Planning and Construction Task Force have sought to shift the dial and highlight the critical importance of soils, soil health and soil function in the context of development projects. This is leading to a greater appreciation of soils and the role they play in supporting sustainable development and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), but there are still large gaps in this appreciation and in how soils are treated during construction. Soil is so often seen as the material lying in the way of construction starting which needs to be scraped up and stockpiled as quickly as possible. Soil surveys and good soil re-use planning are too often forgotten. The panel will bring a range of perspectives to this topic, looking at how soils are perceived and understood by those involved in planning and implementation, where knowledge and skills gaps lie and how these can be filled, and how better re-use of soil materials (to include soil-forming materials) can be achieved to maximise appropriate use and thus deliver the best outcomes in terms of circularity, landscape, BNG, water management, social value, increased climate resilience and wider Environmental Net Gain.
Martina Girvan
Martina Girvan, Natural Capital Community of Practice Lead at Arcadis
Martina is a Chartered Ecologist with over 25 years’ experience who specialises in biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural capital. In addition to leading the Ecology and Arboricultural team, her role within Arcadis is to promote the implementation of the natural capital approach to deliver biodiversity and environmental net gain within projects, for clients and different technical disciplines. To this end she works with organisations such as CIEEM, CIRIA and the Green Construction Board to produce guidance, develop and champion events, to promote the use of quality engagement and design including nature-based solutions to deliver climate resilience, social cohesion and enhanced biodiversity, improving quality of life for all.
Aydin Zorlutana
Aydin Zorlutuna, UK Director of Landscape, Materplanning and Urbanism at Arcadis.
Aydin provides strategic leadership to the ARCADIS UK region Landscape Architecture, Masterplanning and Urbanism team. With over 30 years experience he is a well seasoned and client facing professional who enjoys working with fellow disciplines and artisans alike.
Aydin has been guest lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, and has presented thought leadership at conferences and network events. He has successfully presented on numerous occasions to Design Review Panels. He is a qualified Permaculture designer and a professional assessor for the Landscape Institute’s Pathway to Chartership (P2C) and Technician Member attainment process.
Mark Nason
Mark Nason, Head of Professional Practice at the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
Mark has worked in education and research for over 20 years. At Bangor University, he completed a PhD in soil organic matter formation at post-industrial sites, followed by two post-doctoral research positions in plant physiology and soil construction for land restoration. After moving into Further Education, he qualified as a teacher and has worked for the Chichester and Cornwall College Groups. In his earlier roles, he lead the development of applied Higher Education courses at Eden Project Learning, teaching plant-soil science to horticulture and ecology students, and maintaining a strong interest in soil construction and the development of soil processes during restoration. He is now the Head of Professional Practice at the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
Summary and Day 1 Close - 5:15pm - 5:30pm
SUMMARY
5:15pm – 5:30pm
British Society of Soil Science
Gala Dinner- 7:15pm – 12:00am
GALA DINNER (to be booked Separately)
7:15pm – 12:00am
Welsh Banquet Experience at Cardiff Castle
Book Here
End of Day 1
Day 2: 5 December 2024
[Soils for Net Zero]
Registration and Poster Set Up - 9:00am - 9:30am
Registration and Poster Set Up
9:00am – 9:30am
Sign in at the registration desk, collect and set up your poster (if applicable) and network with delegates before the conference begins.
BSSS Invited Lecture - 9:30am - 10:00am
Soils, greenhouse gases and mitigation – Dave Chadwick
BSSS Invited Speaker
9:30am – 10:00am (inc. Q&A)
Synopsis
Soils, greenhouse gases and mitigation
Soils represent both a source and a sink for greenhouse gases, and hence their management offers a significant opportunity to contribute to the Net Zero challenge. Recent research has improved the way in which we account for greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, e.g. through the derivation and use of country specific emission factors that better reflect the effects of soils, climate and nitrogen management on nitrous oxide emissions. Further, research is demonstrating potential greenhouse mitigation practices and strategies to protect and increase soil carbon stocks. This presentation will summarise recent research that addresses soil-borne greenhouse gas emissions, quantifying the potential for mitigation and exploring strategies to increase soil carbon sequestration. It will also address the growing concern of extreme weather events, which can significantly impact soil health and potentially lead to increased GHG emissions.
Dave Chadwick
Dave Chadwick is an Agriculture and Environmental Scientist with research interests that include sustainable use of nutrient inputs, diffuse pollution measurements (to soil, air and water) and the testing of mitigation strategies in different farming systems. He is Professor of Sustainable Land Use systems at Bangor University, and led the Defra/Devolved Administrations-funded InveN2Ory project (AC0116) to improve the nitrous oxide component of the UK’s agriculture greenhouse gas inventory and was PI of the NERC-funded Uplands-N2O project (NE/M015351/1) to determine factors that control nitrous oxide emissions from urine patches in extensively grazed upland systems. He is Co-I of two of the UKRI (BBSRC)-funded Greenhouse Gas Removal Demonstrator projects and he co-leads the GCRF-funded project, Do agricultural microplastics undermine food security and sustainable development in developing countries?
Dave has published >300 refereed papers and also contributes to policy and practice. He has contributed to previous sections of RB209 (The Nutrient Management Guide) on Organic Materials, and Grass and Forage Crops. He was a member of Defra’s Nutrient Management Expert Group (2020-2023) and is currently a member of Natural Resources Wales Evidence Advisory Committee.
Oral Presentation Session 3 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Soils for net zero Presentations (1)
10:00am – 11:00am (inc. Q&A)
Soils for net zero abstracts (1)
Amber Lounge
Soils for Net Zero Presentation Session 1
Soil Health Presentation Session (1)
Luci Corbett – Impacts of ground preparation on soil carbon in woodland afforestation and reforestation [10:00am]
Khagendra Baral – The effect of slurry treatments and spreading techniques on soil N2O emissions [10:15am]
Wenxuan Shi – Assessing Peatland Emissions of Nitrous Oxide (ASPEN) [10:30am]
Tanya Trott – The impact the Enhanced Rock Weathering (Crushed basalt) has on Soil Hydrology [10:45am]
Pecha Kucha Session: 11:15am - 12:15pm
Tackling Soil Health for Net Zero
11:15am – 12:15pm
Collation of ‘Soil Health’ and ‘Soils for net zero’ abstracts
- How soils are degraded
- Benchmarking Soil Health
- Solutions for net zero
Amber Lounge
Presentations: Tackling soil health for net zero
- Nikki Baggaley – The economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland’s water environment [11:20am]
- Jonah Prout – Regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon: current findings from a new long-term experiment [11:25am]
- Lisa Cole – Microbial bioinoculants obtained from pristine grassland can build soil organic carbon in cropland soil [11:30am]
- Albert Muleke – Regenerative agriculture improves productivity, profitability and carbon footprint [11:35am]
- Ashish Malik – Biogeochemical determinants of carbon accrual in restored peatlands [11:40am]
- Selva Dhandapani – Forest biogeochemical monitoring indicates altered biogeochemical dynamics in rhizosphere of oak trees with Acute Decline symptoms [11:45am]
- Prudence W Mhlophe – Modified Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) and Biochar remediation of heavy metal contaminated urban soils in Glasgow [11:50am]
- Munisath Khandoker – Designing a soil health index for sustainable agricultural systems [11:55am]
Parallel Session 3: 11:15am - 11:45am
Careers Seminar
Environmental science careers outside of academia: tales from a LEC PhD graduate
Marta Cattin, Soil Protection Advisor at the Environment Agency
11:15am – 11:45am
Parallel Rooms
Synopsis
This session will be led by Dr. Marta Cattin, a Soil Protection Advisor at the Environment Agency. In this seminar, Marta will talk about her journey from academia to industry and share her experience of how the skills developed as a PhD student can be valuable in the workplace.
Marta Cattin
Dr. Marta Cattin, Soil Protection Advisor at the Environment Agency
Marta has a PhD in Soil Science from Lancaster University and has been with the Environment Agency for the past three years. She started out as a Soil Health Advisor, working with farmers on an EU LIFE project in the North East of England aimed at improving soil management practices.
During her time as Soil Health Advisor, Marta ran a soil health monitoring program in the Northumberland catchment area, helping farmers understand their soil health and encouraging them to adopt better practices. She’s also set up two field experiments—one looking at cover crops as green manure and another testing composted pig FYM as a soil bio-stimulant—to show farmers practical ways to improve soil management on their land.
Poster Session 2: 12:15pm - 1:00pm
Soils For Net Zero Poster Presentations
12:15pm – 1:00pm
Amber Lounge and Catering Room
Parallel Session 4: 12:15pm - 1:00pm
BSSS Journals – Peer Review
How does peer review work and how do you get involved?
Gareth Jenkins – Editor at Wiley
12:15pm – 1:00pm
Parallel Rooms
Synopsis
How does peer review work and how do you get involved?
What happens after you submit your paper to a journal? How does the peer review process work and how can you get involved? This session will shed light on the inner workings of the peer review system and how it benefits both authors and reviewers. There will also be plenty of time for questions and discussions.
Gareth Jenkins
Gareth Jenkins is a full-time editor at Wiley, based in the UK. His PhD is in Aquatic Ecology – it focussed on trophic networks, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, and their response to multiple stressors, such as acidification and temperature. Gareth was Editor-in-Chief of Ecology & Evolution between 2017 – 2024, and has recently moved to Executive Editor on the title, as well holding the same role on the Journal of Biogeography since 2023. Within research publishing, he has a particular interest in open data and code.
Lunch - 1:00pm – 2:00pm
LUNCH ANd Venue Tour
1:00pm – 2:00pm
During the break at 1:30pm, there will be the opportunity to go on a tour of the grounds and have a short presentation on its development and soils.
Led by Robin Saxton, the Head Sports Turf Manager at Glamorgan Cricket Club and BSSS Member, Alex Vickers, MI Soil Sci.
Venue Tour and Presentation
Register for this on arrival
There will be an informal tour of the cricket ground with a discussion of the outfield reconstruction project and the finer points of managing cohesive soils to produce international standard cricket pitches with the associated playability characteristics for the highest level of cricket. The outfield element will consider the issues around the reconstruction and drainage of the outfield which necessarily had to take place over late autumn and winter in South Wales, an area not renowned for its dry weather. Robin Saxton, the Head Sports Turf Manager at the stadium will lead the discussion on the management and preparation of pitches to ICC and ECB First Class standards and Alex Vickers, MI Soil Sci, will lead the discussion of the outfield reconstruction project.
Technology and Innovation Keynote - 2:00pm - 2:30pm
Signals in the Soil: Multi-omics and Biochemical Exploration of a Streptomyces Community
Jack Connolly
2:00pm – 2:30pm (inc. Q&A)
Amber Room
Synopsis
In his presentation, Jack will cover the interdisciplinary approaches our Signals in the Soil project team took to probe the signalling and interactions between Streptomyces bacterial soil isolates from the Cedar Creek Nature Reserve, USA.
Jack Connolly
Jack Connolly is a Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester. He has a keen interest in the development of novel genome editing technologies in soil bacteria, starting from his PhD, which focussed on in vivo engineering of antibiotic production. Following this, Jack worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of St Andrews, at the interface of chemistry and biology in natural product biosynthesis.
In 2020, he joined the NERC/NSF Signals in the Soil project led in the UK by Prof. Eriko Takano at the University of Manchester. This project, joint with the University of Minnesota, USA, sought to further our understanding of intercellular signalling in soil microbiomes.
Soil and Art Exhibition - 2:00pm - 2:30pm
Soil and Art Exhibition
2:00pm – 2:30pm
[Daro Montag, Phil Lambert, Paul Granjon, Anna Colin, Ros Gray, Jo Pearl]
The View, Upstairs
Oral Presentation Session 4 - 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Technology and Innovation Presentations
2:30pm – 3:15pm (inc. Q&A)
Technology and Innovation abstracts
Amber Lounge
Technology and Innovation Presentations
Technology and Innovation abstracts
John Quinton – A Novel Biodegradable Decomposition Sensor’s Output Correlates with Soil Health Indicators in a Field Study [2:30pm]
Supriti Pramanik – Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) potentially transform the landscape of agricultural engineering construction in the future [2:45pm]
Marcus Palmer – Continuous Monitoring of Soil Carbon Dioxide Emissions Using an Arduino Platform [3:00pm]
Parallel Session 5 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Forest Soils – A Vital Carbon Store?
2:30pm – 3:30pm (panel debate)
This session is curated by the institute of Chartered Foresters
Dr. Elena Vanguelova, Senior Biogeochemist/Soil Sustainability Research Leader, Forest Research
Dr Andrew Weatherall MICFor, Principal Policy Officer (Woodlands and Forestry), RSPB
Clive Thomas FICFor, Senior Adviser, Regenerative Forestry
Parallel Rooms
Synopsis
With our climate changing and pressure increasing from land use and intensification, forest horizon scanning has revealed that soil health will become an ever increasing priority within the next 50 years. Through integrating trees into farming systems, to afforestation and restocking decisions, what impact can the forestry sector have in achieving our net zero ambitions and beyond through carbon sequestration? This debate with sector specialists aims to address the varied opinions around carbon sinks in forest management and woodland creation.
Dr Elena Vanguelova
Dr Elena Vanguelova is a senior biogeochemist and the lead of the Soil Sustainability Research in Forest Research. Her research over the past 20 years covers forest soil functions and health with particular focus on forest and soil carbon and nutrient storage, stability and cycling as well as soil biodiversity and soil health indicators.
She has led and collaborated in numerous UK and EU based projects, initiatives and research networks and she is the lead of the UK BioSoil forest monitoring network, part of EU ICP Forests. She has been sitting on the EU forest soil expert panel for over 20 years and leads the Forest soil condition and health monitoring network as part of the tNCEA (Terrestrial Natural Capital Environmental Assessment Programme).
Dr Andrew Weatherall
Dr Andrew Weatherall MICFor is the Principal Policy Officer of Woodlands and Forestry for the RSPB.
Andrew grew up in a place with more lamp posts than trees. He has a forestry degree from Aberdeen University, a PhD on nutrient cycling in (Sitka spruce) forests, from the Macaulay (now James Hutton) Institute, he led the Forest Management degree at the National School of Forestry in Cumbria and developed the Woodland Ecology and Conservation degree. He contributed to the Woodlands chapter of the British Ecological Society’s report on Nature-Based Solutions and led a working group defining Climate-Smart Forestry in a European funded research collaboration. He now leads woodlands and forestry policy for the RSPB and is a member of the ICF’s Environment Special Interest Group.
Clive Thomas
Clive Thomas is Soil Association’s senior adviser for forestry, leading on regenerative forestry advice including the integration of trees and woodland management into farming systems, as well as policy development in response to voluntary carbon and natural capital markets. Clive is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and has worked in private and state forestry sectors during a 30+ year career managing forests and developing forest policy. As well as his advisory work, Clive is an experienced forestry trainer, delivering courses and workshops on a wide range of topics under the Soil Association’s regenerative forestry theme, including agroforestry, FSC® accredited courses and responsible forest management capacity building for partners in the UK and around the world.
Poster Session 3: 3:15pm - 4:00pm
Technology, Nutrient and Water Management, and Culture Poster Presentations
3:15pm – 4:00pm
- Technology and Innovation
- Nutrient and Water Management
- Soil, Social Science and Culture
Amber Lounge and Catering Room
Soil and Art Exhibition - 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Soil and Art Exhibition
3:30pm – 4:00pm
[Daro Montag, Phil Lambert, Paul Granjon, Anna Colin, Ros Gray, Jo Pearl]
The View, Upstairs
Oral Presentation Session 5 - 4:15pm - 5:00pm
Soils for net zero Presentations (2)
4:15pm – 5:00pm (inc. Q&A)
Soils for net zero abstracts (2)
Amber Lounge
Soils for Net Zero Presentation Session 2
Soil for Net Zero Presentation Session (2)
Selva Dhandapani – Soil Carbon Stocks and Sequestration in Northern Irish Grasslands [4:15pm]
Isobel Lloyd – Net ecosystem productivity of a UK cropland over 2.5 years [4:30pm]
Justin Thomas – An Estimation of Network Rail Soil Carbon Stocks Based on Data from Disused Rail Lines [4:45pm]
Oral Presentation Session 5 - 4:15pm - 5:00pm
Nutrient and Water Management Presentations
4:15pm – 5:00pm (inc. Q&A)
Nutrient and Water Management abstracts
Parallel Rooms
Nutrient and Water Management Presentations
Nutrient and Water Management Presentation Session
Stephan Haefele – Grain P concentration as an indicator of fertilizer requirements in winter wheat [4:15pm]
Rose Boyko – Green shoots from blue growth: promoting the circular blue-to-green economy through repurposing aquaculture by-products to remediate wastewaters and create sustainable soil amendments [4:30pm]
Hannah Walling – Influence of phosphorus fertiliser on soybean nitrogen fixation and production [4:45pm]
Closing Remarks - 5:00pm – 5:15pm
CLOSING REMARKS
5:00pm – 5:15pm
British Society of Soil Science
Early Careers Drinks and Networking Event - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Early Careers Drinks and networking session
5:30pm – 7:00pm
BSSS Early Career Members can network with organisations and other members about future career paths.
[Organisations: NRM, Ceres Research, Arcadis, ADAS, Dyson Farming Research, James Hutton Institute, Environment Agency, Royal Eijkelkamp, Cranfield University, Elementar, European Journal of Soil Science]
End of Day 2
Day 3: 6 December 2024
Tours - 9:00am – 2:00pm
TOURS
9:00am – 2:00pm
There will be 2 different scientific tours and a cultural walking tour that delegates can book onto.
Castell Nos - Scientific Tour (Option 1)
Castell Nos is located on the upland plateau above Maerdy (East of Swansea). Named for the ancient monument which stands on the shoulder of the valley to the west, the site was previously afforested (that’s areas where forestry once was but has now been felled and sold), with large erosion features. The blanket bog is as deep as 4m, and a wide range of specialist bog species were identified during baseline surveys.
Castell Nos has a long and varied history of land use which has changed the habitat significantly. The site is dominated by huge amounts of Molinia caerulea (purple moor grass) with the specialist bog species we love (sphagnum moss) limited to the flattest, wettest areas on site. The site also has a history of wild grass fires which damaged the vegetation on site.
The Lost Peatlands Project, is a Lottery Heritage Funded partnership project that aims to restore peatlands in the most southerly interconnected upland deep peat resource of any significant size in Wales – and one of the largest areas of its type in the UK – providing a unique biogeographical stepping-stone in the overall distribution of blanket bog in southern Britain. Restoration work at Casell Nos has been carried out by the partnership, with contracts managed by Natural Resources Wales to raise the water tables through a series of peat and timber dams.
Swansea University is a key partner and various research projects are ongoing across the Project sites. The combined research will help address evidence needs on peat chemistry, carbon dynamics, vegetation community change and water levels – all of with in the context of ‘Forest to Bog’ restoration.
The site, managed by Natural Resources Wales, offers insight into upland peat restoration activities of afforested sites in Wales and ongoing research in this area. During the visit you will learn about the site’s history, the peat resources and restoration, the Lost Peatland Project, and other research activities at the site.
Crymlyn Bog - Scientific Tour (Option 2)
Crymlyn Bog is the largest lowland fen in Wales and its extensive reed and sedge beds are home to a wide variety of wetland plants, birds and insects. Crymlyn Bog is one of the most important wetland sites in Europe, is a National Nature Reserve and RAMSAR site, and an important carbon store with peat deposits up to 6+m deep. Strictly speaking Crymlyn Bog should be called Crymlyn Fen. Bogs are fed solely from rainwater, while fens are also fed by streams and groundwater. A number of streams feed into the ‘bog’, producing a rich habitat much more typical of East Anglia’s fenland than South Wales. But historically Crymlyn was christened a ‘bog’ and the name has stuck.
Its survival is remarkable considering its location next to industrialised Swansea. Over the years, its neighbours have included an oil refinery, power station and rubbish tip, together with numerous coal mines and other industrial works, and yet the bog has remained largely intact. Crymlyn Bog is part of the LIFEquake project, a five-year project which started in 2022 and aims to restore peatland, quaking bogs and their wider supporting wetland landscapes to favourable conservation status. The site, managed by Natural Resources Wales, offers a fascinating glimpse into its rich history and the unique challenges of overseeing a large nature reserve in a semi-urban setting. During the visit you will learn about the site’s soil and peat resources, the ongoing LIFEquake project, and other current initiatives.
LIFEquake is funded by EU LIFE and supported by Welsh Government and delivered in partnership by NRW, Eryri National Park, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and National Trust.
Cultural Tour
There will also be a walking tour round Cardiff led by Cardiff Bay Tours.
ITINERARY
CARDIFF CASTLE – Roman walls, Norman keep, Bute family Victorian mansion and famous animal wall.
CIVIC CENTRE – Portland stone neo-classical buildings including the National Museum of Wales, City Hall, University, Temple of Peace and Health and many more. Compared to Washington D.C. and set around beautiful gardens and tree-lined avenues.
PRINCIPALITY STADIUM – 72,500 seater world famous multi-purpose stadium. Official home of the Welsh Rugby Union and spiritual home of Welsh football.
PARKS AND GARDENS – Bute Park – Parkland, arboretum and river Taff trail. Gorsedd Gardens and ceremonial stone circle. Friary Gardens and statue of 3rd Marquis of Bute. Alexandra Gardens and Welsh National War Memorial.
OLD TOWN WALL AND CANAL QUARTER – Step back in time to imagine “Olde Cardyfe”.
ARCADES – Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades.
CARDIFF MARKET – Indoor Victorian market – sample some Welsh food!
OLD BREWERY QUARTER – Traditional and modern pubs and bars – sample the City’s famous “Brains” beer.
DAVID’S SHOPPING CENTRE AND ST. DAVID’S HALL – Variety of shops set around the National Concert Hall of Wales.
OLD LIBRARY & CARDIFF STORY MUSEUM – Discover the history of Cardiff.
ART AND SCULPTURES – Traditional to modern artworks.
JOHN’S CHURCH – 15th Century perpendicular style church.
Exhibitors
There will be several exhibitors at the conference in the Exhibition Area who you will be able to network with.
Useful Links
Read more about Peer Review from headline sponsor, Wiley, and hear why it is most important aspects of academic publishing.
Read about the destruction and removal of PFAS from session sponsor, CPL/Puragen Activated Carbons.
Sponsors and Supporters
Headline Sponsors
The European Journal of Soil Science (Wiley)
We are delighted to announce that the European Journal of Soil Science, published by Wiley, is one of the headline sponsors. The conference will be a great opportunity to learn about peer reviewing and also hear more about the journal as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Elementar
We are pleased to announce that Elementar is one of the headline sponsors of the conference. Based in Manchester, Elementar UK supply and support the elemental analysis (EA), total organic carbon (TOC) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) products to the UK market.
https://www.elementar.com/en-gb/
Session Sponsors
Royal Eijkelkamp
Royal Eijkelkamp have been dedicated to soil research since 1911, and in recent years, the focus of their initiatives has shifted to sustainability. Royal Eijkelkamp is driven by a mission and vision that inspire us to do better each day. To leave the world in a better shape for future generations than we inherited it in, we continue develop techniques, products and services to provide new and better alternatives.
CPL/Puragen
CPL/Puragen is a leading international supplier of activated carbon-based purification solutions and has developed innovative technologies to remove PFAS compounds from water and air, followed by an advanced thermal reactivation process that recycles the spent carbon and, most importantly, completely destroys these harmful chemicals.
Supporters
We are pleased to be working in partnership with Natural Resources Wales in the delivery of the event, and would like to thank them for their continued support and expertise.
We are pleased to be working in partnership with VisitCardiff in the delivery of the event, and would like to thank them for their continued support and expertise.
We have launched exciting sponsorship packages for our 2024 Annual Conference so if you are interested in supporting the Society and would like learn more, please click here.