A conversation with Bridget Emmett, a principal scientist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and a board member of the EU Mission Soil. Bridget shares her inspiring journey from a passionate botany student to a leading soil scientist, revealing the critical, yet often overlooked, intricacies of soil health. We explore its complex structure, teeming biodiversity, and indispensable role in sustaining life, all while diving into the cutting-edge technologies like remote sensing and digital twins that are revolutionizing soil monitoring and conservation.

We'll discuss the urgent need to expand regenerative agricultural practices beyond early adopters to the broader farming community, tackling challenges such as rising costs and climate change. Bridget stresses the importance of effective communication and tailored advisory support from policymakers, shedding light on how these elements can facilitate a smoother transition to sustainable farming methods.

From the strengths and limitations of satellite technology in soil health monitoring to the groundbreaking potential of digital twins, in this episode Bridget delves into the critical issue of soil compaction and the role of advanced machinery, robotics, and sensors in preventing it. We'll also examine the intricate balance between farming practices and their environmental impacts, the transition to plant-based diets, and the concept of a circular economy in agriculture.

This podcast is part of the AI 4 Soil Health project which aims to help farmers and policy makers by providing new tools powered by AI to monitor and predict soil health across Europe. For more information visit ai4soilhealth.eu.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This work has received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant numbers 10053484, 1005216, 1006329].

This work has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

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