Soil Health in Agriculture

Inquiry5

The Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee has been set up by the Senedd to look at policy and legislation, and to hold the Welsh Government to account in specific areas. These areas include business, economic development, skills, international trade, agriculture, fisheries and food.

The Committee recognises the importance of healthy soils in agricultural systems for food/fibre production, water quality, flood prevention, biodiversity, and carbon storage. 

It is carrying out a short inquiry to gather evidence on:

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>>>the role and state of soils in agricultural systems;

>>>monitoring of soil health;

>>>classification of soils for land use;

>>>the policy and legislative mechanisms to protect soils and productive land (including the Sustainable Farming Scheme, National Minimum Standards and planning policy (amongst others)); and

>>>the potential for legal frameworks and targets for soils.

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Report

The Committee published its report – Digging the dirt: Improving Wales’ soil health – 18 November 2025 (PDF 1.53MB)

Welsh Government response (PDF 248KB)

A debate was held in Plenary on 4 February 2026.

Correspondence

Letter from the Chair to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs - 3 June 2025 (PDF 154KB)

Letter from the Chair to the National Trust - 4 June 2025 (PDF 111KB)

Response from National Trust Cymru - 20 June 2025 (PDF 295KB)

Response from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs - 23 June 2025 (PDF 260KB)