Under the ‘Rock On Soils’ project, scientists and farmers would work together in order to examine the crushed basic silicate rocks’ use as a soil input. It aims to draw down more carbon into their soils alongside any additional soil and biodiversity benefits.

The project has three main objectives:

• Examine soils and carbon

• To bring together forward-thinking farmers to monitor the practicalities of using the silicate rock crushings on-farm

• To develop an application for wider agricultural dissemination

“This is such an intriguing project to be part of, and it is an excellent example of grassroots farming grasping the opportunity to work with cross-sector partners in the scientific sector,” Debs Roberts, policy manager for (Scottish Organic Producers Association) SOPA, said.