Professor Pete Smith from Aberdeen University will be leading his university's research team as part of the project.
A team of Aberdeen scientists have been awarded £1.6million to help protect fertile, vulnerable soils across the country from the dangers of climate change and industrialisation.
The Aberdeen University researchers, from the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, have been granted the funding by the Natural Environment Research Council.
Working together with a similar team from Lancaster University and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, they will investigate how soils in different ecosystems are being damaged by human activity and environmental change – and suggest ways to reverse the effects.
The team’s research will ultimately be used to determine the best methods for restoring the quality of infertile soil, which can have adverse effects on water quality and agriculture.
Professor Pete Smith, the leader of the Aberdeen team, said: “The ultimate goal of this research is to inform government policy makers, and also land managers, on how best to protect our soils, which underpin the vital goods and services provided by the land.”
Aberdeen University team granted £1.6 million to research soil fertility
