Six Inches of Soil

Watching a 96-minute documentary about soil is not everyone’s idea of a Saturday night out. But Hazel and I did: we went to Saffron Screen and watched Six Inches of Soil (2024). It’s an inspiring look at three young British farmers championing a different way of farming, standing against our current industrial food system, which is causing so much damage. Made by a small film company with lots of volunteers working for nothing, it is an informative, shocking, and challenging look at the state of our land.

  We are reminded that just six inches of soil feeds eight billion people today. Soil is our most precious resource which needs looking after. Healthy soil provides all the essential nutrients needed for life, but sadly, modern agriculture is degrading it. Farming is the single biggest cause of bio-diversity collapse and the second biggest cause of climate change (because soil can store phenomenal amounts of carbon).

  Too much ploughing, and in particular ploughing too deeply, seriously damages soil structure. Heavy farm machinery easily compacts soil, forcing the air out of it, preventing rainwater from percolating through, which can lead to unnecessary flooding. Compacted soil is like concrete: no worms, bacteria or the other vital invertebrates can survive in it. Too much spraying of pesticides and herbicides wrecks the ecological balance which for so long has kept soil healthy. The film estimates that if we carry on as we are, we have no more than forty more harvests before our soil becomes unproductive – and then what happens?

  To sustain our farming industry the film argues we need it to be ‘regenerative’. That is, we need farming techniques working in harmony with nature, not against it. The principles are these: minimise disturbing the soil, maintain living root systems, protect the soil surface, increase the variety of crops grown, and take better care of livestock on the land. At least, that is what I got out of the film, but I am no farming expert, so I recommend you see the film for yourselves. Perhaps it would have been helpful to hear the opinions of others who have yet to be convinced.

  I was impressed by these young people as they worked at making their businesses successful. The playing field is not level for small farmers, as just nine retailers have 94.5% of all food sales in Britain. They control the market; they control what farmers are paid; they’re not interested in working with small producers. At least one of these young people needed a second job just to survive. The Government needs to do something about the supermarkets’ stranglehold on food production.

  Six Inches of Soil challenges me to take more interest in where my food comes from and how it is produced. I need to be prepared to pay a little more for my food (because fortunately I can), so that I support local growers better. The benefit to me will be in the taste! And I will continue to support those petitioning Parliament to make farming fairer for all producers.

Andy Colebrooke

For more about the film go to sixinchesofsoil.org