The Earth is a giant ecosystem, a complex balance between plant and animal life, rich in biodiversity. Soil is an essential part of this ecosystem, providing us with food and fibre and purifying the drinking water on which we depend. In the past we have accepted quick chemical fixes as necessary to increase its fertility, while often overlooking any effect this might have on the long term viability and sustainability of the soil itself. We do this at our peril.

Thanks to modern science we are beginning to understand what years of treating soil like dirt has done. We now accept that the soil beneath our feet is alive and we should therefore use more environmentally sensitive methods to solve soil related problems. How well we manage this vital resource is critical for our survival.

For instance, we can now test the "health" of soil quickly and easily by measuring its respiration rather than performing a lengthy and possibly costly chemical analysis.

We can also compost "green waste" and safely add it to soil as a fertiliser or soil conditioner, rather than wasting it by putting it into landfill sites. Mature compost is an ideal natural fertiliser that can improve the biological, chemical and physical quality of soil without the impact on the environment associated wth agri-chemicals.

The British Government has recognised the importance of this new innovative approach by granting Earthcare a "SMART" award to investigate how it can be used to improve the management of soil and compost, protect the environment and increase the productivity of soil.

The results of this study will be used to increase our knowledge of what goes on in the soil beneath our feet so that we can extend the Earthcare® range of products and services that genuinely do help to "make a difference".