Terrafarmer carries on farmer-led trials into biological inputs and soil health  

With rising input costs, degraded soils, and growing climate pressures, farmers across the UK face tough decisions about how to maintain productivity while preparing for a low-input, net-zero future.  

Terrafarmer is responding to this challenge through rigorous, farmer-led trials across Mid and North Wales, which are focused on testing the use of biological inputs in real-world situations.  

Soil health specialists at Terrafarmer are inviting farmers to attend the events on September 8th and 9th to learn which products have delivered a consistent increase in kg/dm/ha, crude protein, microbial biomass, and trace element availability.  

The participants will have a chance to gain insights into how the products work, why they work and practical advice on how to get the best return on investment for their farm and soil, the company confirmed.  

Terrafarmer Biologicals Project  

Biological inputs, also referred to as biostimulants, consist of substances and/or microorganisms that help to activate natural soil and plant processes.  

Although they are not fertilisers or pesticides themselves, existing research shows that biological inputs can boost soil health, crop quality, nutrient cycling, and potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions (particularly nitrous oxide) associated with synthetic fertilisers.  

However, there is currently a lack of independent data on the use of approved biologicals in real-world scenarios. The Terrafarmer Biologicals Project (TTBP) seeks to address this knowledge gap.  

Led by Terrafarmer and supported by expert partners, TTBP is innovative in its use of multi-product, multi-site comparisons, organic system inclusion, and strong farmer involvement.  

Spanning five farms and six biological inputs, the nine-month trial (running from April until December 2025) is generating real-world data — including financial outcomes, improvements in soil organic matter and soil health, grassland productivity, and strengthened business resilience.  

The project will help conventional and organic farmers make informed, practical decisions on biological inputs, and aligns closely with Welsh government priorities around soil health, climate action, and rural innovation, offering a credible pathway toward more resilient, regenerative farming.  

What’s being trialled and why it matters  

Six biological products were selected for their potential to replace or reduce synthetic inputs. These include:  

• Soil Point: Humic and fulvic-based soil conditioner to provide trace minerals and condition soil to boost crop establishment, growth and quality  

• Sea2Soil: Fish protein hydrolysate delivering plant-available amino acids and trace elements to the crop and soil  

• Sylgen: Consortium of beneficial bacteria and fungi to promote soil health and plant growth  

• Kelp Crofters: Seaweed-based biological input containing auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins to promote growth and help plants manage stress events  

• QLF TerraFed: Filtered molasses delivering plant-available sugars, feeding both the plant and soil microbiology  

• BIO-CAT: Novel phage technology that targets and kills harmful soil bacteria to help soils rebalance, promoting yields and increasing grain protein levels.  

Will Marris, regenerative agronomist at Terrafarmer, said: “We want to break down the barriers to adopting biologicals—not with hype, but with robust, farmer-driven evidence.”  

Each on-farm trial site will test the six selected biological inputs under real farm conditions. One treatment will include a mix of all the products combined, with one control strip of standard farm practice.

Product application is via a Tow and Fert Multi 500 machine, enabling consistent foliar application and easy comparison.  

Trials will cover grassland systems, evaluating: 

• Soil health metrics (including microbial biomass, VESS scores, and fungal:bacterial ratios)  

• Crop quality and yield (via tissue, forage, and grain analysis)  

• Input reduction potential  

• Farmer experience and qualitative feedback.  

“We’re showing what’s possible when farmers lead the research—and the results speak to the entire industry,” Hugo Ellis, regenerative agronomist at Terrafarmer, added.  

Data-driven, farmer-focused  

A spokesperson for the project said: “This is not research for research’s sake. It’s hands-on, field-scale testing with real-world relevance.”  

High-quality data will be collected using:  

• GPS-located soil samples (pre- and post-treatment)  

• In-field agronomic monitoring by BASIS/FACTS-qualified Terrafarmer agronomists  

• Soil microbiometer readings for fungal:bacterial ratios  

• Independent laboratory analysis  

• Remote sensing (satellite imagery) for crop growth and dry matter yield  

• On-site weather stations tracking rainfall, air and soil temperature, and humidity 

• Farmer experience captured through qualitative feedback and events.  

All monitoring is delivered by qualified agronomists and research partners, including data analysis lead Dr Joshua Afzal.  

Knowledge sharing and farmer engagement  

Up to 10 farmer-facing events (nine in person, one online) will bring the trial data to life—through field walks, workshops, peer-led discussion groups, and written materials.  

Join the events: 

• Monday 8th September: near Llandysul (Mid Wales) – book here  

• Tuesday 9th September: near Chester (North Wales) – book here  

The meetings are set to create a practical loop of farmer-to-farmer learning, helping extend impact beyond the trial group and fostering a regional community of knowledge around regenerative and biological farming.  

Terrafarmer said that ultimately its team is hoping that TTBP will confirm the following benefits of biological inputs for farmers:  

• Cost savings via input reduction  

• Yield and quality improvements  

• Soil health-linked productivity gains  

• Environmental benefits from reduced input use  

• Greater resilience to climate and market volatility. 

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