A new European Innovation Partnership (EIP) focussing on soil health on the Loop Head Peninsula in west Co. Clare will be launched next month.

The SCEENE (Soil Carbon Enhancement for Nutrient Elimination)-EIP is set to be launched on April 17.

The EIP is being run by Loop Head Together, a local environmental and social sustainability group.

The group said that the aim of the project is to improve soil health, soil biodiversity and water quality on farms on the Loop Head Peninsula.

The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023 to 2027.

Under the project, farm waste will be converted into biochar through a process called pyrolysis to develop a biochar-liquid fertiliser.

This fertiliser will be applied to experimental plots on participating farms to assess its effectiveness in improving nutrient retention (prevent nutrient leaching to watercourses), soil health, water quality and carbon sequestration.

The experimental design, implementation, and analysis will be carried out by Dr. Lena Madden at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

According to the EIP management, the biochar-liquid fertiliser has the potential to improve water quality, which is a significant issue in agriculture at present.

It may also enhance the efficiency of on-farm nutrient use during a period of high input costs and declining farm gate returns, the organisers added.

Apart from the key aim of producing biochar-liquid fertiliser, the EIP will also involve "complimentary measures" including the establishment of deep-rooting plant species to improve soil structure, increase infiltration, and capture excess nutrients, alongside the introduction of mycorrhizal fungi to strengthen nutrient uptake, enhance soil aggregation, and improve crop resilience.

It is hoped that these actions will deliver measurable improvements in soil health, water quality, and farm sustainability.

Biochar

Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced from plant material at high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment.

It can loosely bind nutrients, preventing leaching, and make them available for plant uptake. Its highly porous structure provides habitats for beneficial fungi and bacteria.

It is believed that biochar can increase soil porosity, facilitating air and water movement.

It can also neutralise acid, and promote germination and seedling growth.

EIP participation

In order for farmers to get involved in the EIP, they must hold an active herd number.

They must be an active farmer, who must have submitted a current application for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), which includes a declaration of all lands farmed.

Participants must be farming at least one parcel containing qualifying lands within or partially within Loop Head Peninsula.

Participants must also generate and store farm waste such as slurry, farm yard manure, or plant residues.

Participants can be paid for their participation in the EIP, and the organisers said that farmers can get access to a network of advisors and researchers.