The podcast explores the safety of urban soil for growing produce, discussing testing processes for toxins and featuring an urban farm project in Oldham. It highlights the challenges of revitalizing industrial land with urban farming, addressing soil contamination and remediation techniques. The dangers of farming on polluted land are examined, with a focus on metal concentrations in city soils and recommendations for safer consumption.
Urban farming projects use innovative methods to address contaminated soil from industrial areas.
Community gardens navigate lead contamination creatively by strategic planting approaches.
Deep dives
Urban Farming and Soil Contamination
Urban farming projects like the UK's largest urban farm, run by Northern Roots, are using innovative methods like no-dig growing techniques to address contaminated soil issues from industrial areas. The site's history as an industrial hub with pollutants like lead and zinc underscores the challenges of transforming such spaces for agriculture. The project focuses on professionalized growing to generate revenue while benefiting the community.
Contaminated Soil Research
Professor Noachukwu's soil research in Nigeria highlights the prevalence of heavy metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium in contaminated soil, affecting crops like rice and maize. Despite challenges, efforts are underway to address contamination through organic amendments and biochar to reduce metal uptake by plants. The impact on public health underscores the importance of knowing the source of purchased food.
Dealing with Contaminated Soil
In Manchester, community gardens like Ladybarn Community Hub navigate lead contamination creatively by avoiding root crops and favoring raised beds. The need for soil testing and strategic planting approaches to mitigate health risks from contaminated soil becomes evident. The project's resilience and adaptability showcase the potential for sustainable urban agriculture despite soil challenges.
More of us are living in cities and urban farming is on the rise. Can you be sure the city soil you’re growing in is clean enough?
Industry and traffic can contaminate land, but there are ways to deal with the problem.
Ruth Alexander finds out how to test soil, how to clean it, and which fruit and vegetables are the safest to grow on former industrial and commercial sites.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk
(Picture: A garden trowel with some soil on it)
Producer: Hannah Bewley
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