The TRUTH Project (Thriving Roots Underpinning Total Soil Health), spearheaded by BOFIN and its partners, is reshaping how farmers understand and manage their soil and root health. Running from January 2024 to January 2027, this innovative £1M research programme combines cutting-edge technology with farmer-led initiatives to tackle critical challenges in sustainable agriculture. At its core, TRUTH is about empowering farmers with actionable insights and tools to foster healthier soils and crops.
BOFIN leads a consortium that includes the University of Nottingham, the John Innes Centre, PES Technologies and the UK Agri-Tech Centre. Together, they are leveraging advanced scientific research and pioneering sensor technologies to create an accessible, farmer-focused platform. The programme’s flagship sensor, developed by PES Technologies, can detect a soil’s unique biological “signature,” offering over 10 soil health indicators. The sensor is being refined to measure microbial diversity and the fungal-to-bacterial ratio, giving farmers unprecedented insights directly in the field.
A key component of TRUTH is the Soil Circle, a free, community-driven initiative open to all farmers. Root Rangers, paid participants in the project, carry out on-farm trials, contribute data, and share findings to promote the adoption of soil and root health innovations.
The TRUTH project has six main objectives:
- Soil/Root health measurement platform
- Genetics for root efficiency
- Farmer-led trials
- Enhanced soil sensor technology
- Farmer engagement and dissemination
- Project management and technical support
By equipping farmers with innovative tools, actionable data and a collaborative community, TRUTH aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and practical application. From microbial diversity insights to improved crop genetics, TRUTH promises to transform soil health management into a cornerstone of resilient agriculture.
