Building Resilient Soils and Water Systems at G’s Norfolk

Two innovations were discussed at length at our recent event at G’s Norfolk.

1. G's Group Technical and Innovation Manager, Callum Bennett (pictured), described how the 1,200-ha Norfolk farm is sub-irrigating fields. A system of reservoirs, sluices, field drains and channels allow water tables across the farm to be held at a constant value of 60 cm, encouraging deep root growth, even crop development and reduced evaporation loss, with the latter particularly noteworthy during a drought summer.

Carbon loss from organic soils is proportional to water table height, and the farm is trialling crops with shallower water tables (10-45 cm) to consider how extra carbon benefits interact with yield performance. G’s estimate that by modifying these practices they have reduced peat loss by an estimated 75 percent compared with the average rate for the area. 

2. Lucy Harler (pictured) described how regenerative techniques such as Johnson Su composting are being deployed across the business to build soil health and promote economic resilience. The goal is to foster a thriving soil microbiome capable of delivering timely nutrition and disease protection to crops, allowing soil to retain moisture and reducing the need for costly inputs. Over just three years G’s have revived cracked, compacted soils barely usable for growing in some areas into biologically active soils with roots and pore spaces to 1m depth which require minimal cultivation before planting. Deep tillage has been reduced by 76 percent since 2018, along with reduction in nitrogen inputs, higher in-field biodiversity and reduced carbon emissions. 

Sustainable soil management is essential if highly productive areas such as the Fens are to continue producing food within environmental limits. Moreover, with drought becoming more frequent and acute in summer, careful water management is critical.

G’s is a family business and one of Europe’s largest fresh produce suppliers, with 9,600 ha under management in the UK alone. This scale means they can trial sustainable methods over large areas, exploring how often competing objectives can be realised together and at scale. 

The event was attended by soil advisor Dr Josiah Judson and head of horticulture Anne Rees from our farming and land use team, with NBSOIL and Fenland Soil and support from Ocado Retail as part of our Farm to Fork partnership.