Farmers, NGOs and researchers have welcomed a decision taken by the government and Cranfield University to lift licensing restrictions and paywalls on the National Soils Inventory (NSI) – the dataset that underpins understanding of the soils of England and Wales.
NSI provides a very detailed description of soil profiles, from the texture of the soil, to the mottle size and colour, with many observations recorded within this fundamental dataset.
Combining this data with chemical data from the NSI topsoil datasets may reveal otherwise hidden trends in the soil.
Created by the British government in the 1970s, the NSI was previously under license and behind a paywall by Cranfield University.
On Tuesday, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a new agreement that will amend the current licencing arrangement, opening up access to key datasets for land managers, farmers, and planners.
In response to the announcement, Sustainable Soils Alliance (SSA) founder Ellen Fay stated: “This is a significant moment – for the soil science community, for farmers, and ultimately for the soils of England and Wales.
“As the most critical tool we have for understanding and interpreting soils at many different levels, access to this data and the associated maps heralds a new era of collaboration and partnership.”
Professor Bridget Emmett, president of the British Ecological Society said that: “Improved access to the England and Wales soils data is a game changer for everyone in the soil and ecological community who are working to develop innovative solutions to protect and restore our soils. It’s a huge relief that these data are now freely available to all.”
This development is particularly timely given the recently announced consultation on a Land Use Framework for England, the government’s ongoing review of the Environmental Improvement Plan, and its proposed 25-Year ‘Farming Roadmap’.
