An inquiry into the state of UK soil health has been launched in Westminster with the aim of making key recommendations to be made to government on future policy to protect one of the industry's key assets.

The soil health inquiry, conducted by the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA), will hold its first public evidence session next week. MPs who sit on EFRA will discuss on Tuesday, March 7, how the government will meet its goal of having all soil 'managed sustainably' by 2030.

It is not currently clear how soil health will be measured by government, with MPs saying this will need to be clarified as new legislation will encourage farmers to provide ‘public goods’, including healthy soil.

Read more: Soil health highlighted at Gt Yorks regen agriculture event

Chair of EFRA, Sir Robert Goodwill, said it was vital that government brought farmers and land managers along with any reforms made. “Soil health matters to everyone – it’s central to the food we eat, the ecosystems we are a part of and our efforts to address climate change," he said.

“Policy changes must be ambitious enough to turn the tide of soil degradation, but also flexible and appealing to those who work the land. Any reforms must also cover a broad range of soils.”

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Borders, and member of EFRA, said the inquiry findings would be 'crucial' to the future of UK food production. "This inquiry will allow us to make key recommendations to government as to how best to protect and nurture this vital life-giving natural asset."