Study highlights importance of soil quality

The importance of high soil quality has been reiterated by a study into children's diets in Canada.

According to spokesperson for the UK's Soil Association Josh Stride, the research highlighted how vital it is to eat organically-grown produce.

The team behind the experiment altered the eating habits of a selection of youngsters in the country and found that pesticides routinely found in their urine disappeared when they started consuming organic fruit and vegetables.

Mr Stride said when they reverted back to type, evidence of the chemicals quickly returned.

"Put simply, organic food contains more of the good stuff we need - like vitamins and minerals - and less of the bad stuff that we don't - like pesticides, additives and drugs," he commented.

The protection of soil quality could come under closer scrutiny when the European Commission enforces alterations to the Common Agricultural Policy.

It recently revealed a draft ten-point plan aimed at making improvements to the farming industry throughout the EU.

Posted by Claire Manning