The problem is partly cultural. Farmers have come to see agro-chemicals as the main source of fertility and pest/disease control. This has led farmers not only to overlook the unintended consequences of agro-chemicals damaging soils, it has also diverted attention from soil health which should be at the heart of farm decisionmaking. The agrochemical industry has helped perpetuate this culture. It has also arguably diverted research from more innovative farming practices. In particular, there is an increasing realisation that soil life may be the key to crop productivity, but little research is being invested in this area and huge knowledge gaps remain – although new research is now being undertaken, for example by The James Hutton Institute on effective soil function. v . But it is more than just a cultural change that is needed. Many farmers are at the mercy of short-term leases and the pressure placed on them by their customers to compete with other global suppliers with lower overhead costs. As a consequence farmers are often forced to focus on the short-term. The result is short rotations, and high value but soil damaging crop systems with quick returns – this is not a way of farming that ensures future food production and healthy soils. What about government soil policies? Soil policies are not safe-guarding UK soils. In England, the recent changes to GAECs (Good Agriculture and Environment Conditions) will not prevent all damaging operations, let alone promote widespread positive management. For example, the requirement to maintain vegetative cover to protect soils over winter still allows maize stubble to count as adequate soil cover, despite the clear evidence of soil damage linked to maize cultivation. Unless there is improved regulation, the UK government will not meet the target of all soils sustainably managed by 2030. What action is needed? Soil is a fundamental environmental resource and should be given the same level of protection as water and air. An EU Soil Directive would have helped achieve this, but for now at least, it is not on the table. So we believe the UK needs to act itself to save UK soils, while working constructively with EU partners to develop Europe-wide protection for our soils. As a first step we believe this means committing to increasing soil organic matter levels. We present here our target for this and seven ways to achieving it.