Soil is the upper layer of the Earth’s crust, composed of both organic and inorganic materials: weathered rock, living and decaying organisms, and an extraordinary number of microorganisms. It is a vital resource for both the environment and human life: it nourishes plants, filters water, stores carbon, and supports biodiversity. However, it is a non-renewable resource. When degraded or eroded, it takes centuries to regenerate.
The delicate balance that sustains soil depends on its physical and biological structure. Microorganisms, for example, play a key role: they transform organic matter into essential nutrients for plants, contribute to the formation of humus, and drive the nitrogen and carbon cycles. Minerals from rock fragments also help enrich the soil, making the topsoil — its most fertile layer — essential for agriculture.
Today, this balance is under threat. Climate change, intensive agriculture, and overexploitation are compromising soil health across the globe.
The new Position Paper by Grey Silo Ventures and the R&I Department of Cereal Docks Group explores emerging solutions to this issue: Soil Tech — a fast-growing sector where science, technology and entrepreneurship converge to preserve, improve and regenerate agricultural soils.
The paper presents four key approaches that many startups are using to address soil health challenges:
- Preservation & Maintenance of Soil
- Improvement of Soil Productivity
- Reparation & Restoration of Soil
- New Frontiers
It also offers an in-depth look at these technologies through exclusive interviews with industry players such as Elaniti, APOLO Biotech, Talam Biotech, and OlsAro, providing a unique perspective on some of the most promising solutions for the future of regenerative agriculture.
Download the full paper
to explore the future of sustainable farming, uncovering soil health challenges, emerging technologies, investment opportunities, and the startups transforming the industry.
