Loss of soil from farm fields is choking Britain's rivers. Three million tonnes of soil are washed into river and drainage systems each year, with over 40% of UK farmland already officially classified as being 'vulnerable' to soil erosion. The immediate results are blocked waterways that increase the risk of flooding, and the longer term economic viability of arable farming in vulnerable areas is also being seriously eroded.
Initially working in the UK, Belgium and Hungary, the SOWAP (SOil and WAter Protection) project is working to identify some of the significant changes in farming practices that have led to the alarming increase in the rate of soil erosion. The project will also build a comprehensive picture of soil erosion across Europe, the results of which will be closely integrated with the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive.
This collaborative, three-year project is providing crucial practical answers to reduce further soil loss and integrate solutions to counter impacts on the local environment. The SOWAP Project aims to develop sustainable arable systems for farmers, along with the scientific and economic evidence to support European agriculture and environmental policy decisions.
A wide range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic institutions and farmers are involved with this important €4 million project, which us co-funded by EU Life and Syngenta. A full list of the organisations collaborating on this project is given below.
For further information please visit www.SOWAP.org or download the SOWAP leaflet. A full list of SOWAP partner organisations are listed below.
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An EU Life environment initiative helping to develop new methods to protect and enhance the environment. |
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