Healthy soil

Healthy soils hold more water, nutrients, store carbon, clean toxins, prevent erosion, provide plants with nutrients and protection against pests. All healthy soils consist of the following three components:

Parent material

Every type of soil, whether in a rainforest or a desert, consists of a combination of three elements: sand, silt, and clay. These elements contain all the nutrients essential for plants, although not in a readily available form. This challenges the conventional belief in traditional agriculture that we must add nutrients to our soils for plants to thrive.

Micro-biology

In a healthy soil, a thriving community of microorganisms form symbiotic relationships with plants. Plants depend on these organisms to break down organic matter and the parent material, making essential nutrients available. In return, plants share the sugars they produce through photosynthesis. Benefits of a healthy microbiome are: water retention, good soil structure, carbon storage, breakdown of toxins, erosion prevention, nutrient cycling and protection against pests.

Organic matter

Organic matter not only contains nutrition for microorganisms but also stores it. When blended with the parent material, it creates the ideal structure, supporting a healthy, oxygen-rich environment for beneficial microorganisms. This combination gives the soil its beneficial character.

Soilfoodweb

Let's look into the second component: microbiology. The soil microbiome has it's own foodchain, the Soilfoodweb, coined by Dr. Elaine Ingham. A thriving soil hosts a complete Soilfoodweb, featuring all the beneficial microorganisms (see image). This enables the autonomous cycling of nutrients. By restoring this natural system, we reduce our dependence on external inputs such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers to a minimum. Our approach focusses on restoring the Soilfoodweb, and all our products include its fundamental components: beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes.

Biocomplete

Our produce undergoes lab testing to ensure the liquids are BioComplete; with the following standards:

  • Min. 300 µg of beneficial bacterial biomass per mL

  • Min. 300µg of beneficial fungal biomass per mL

  • Disclosed fungal to bacteria (F:B) ratio

  • No significant ‘bad guys’

  • Min. 10.000 beneficial protozoa per mL

    • Few ciliates (less then 100)

    • Including flagelates and amoebae

  • Min. 100 beneficial nematodes

    • Primarily bacterial feeders

    • Few fungal feeders and predators

    • No root feeders