EVENTS AND COURSES
Here is a list of events and courses for those of you who are keen to learn more about the soil and regenerative farming. They range from conferences and short courses to full-time university degrees.
EVENTS
UNITED KINGDOM
Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival – Almost a decade old, Groundswell provides a welcome forum for farmers and anyone interested in the health of our food systems. Learn about the theory and practice of regenerative agriculture and expect live music, workshops, and even a spot of camping. Always a highlight in our year.
Oxford Real Farming Conference - Working with partners in the UK and internationally, the ORFC brings the real food and farming movement together every January.
EUROPE
The Regenerative Agriculture Summit Europe – This annual European gathering of food and textile industries is a great opportunity to meet a likeminded regenerative network. The event is usually held in early September.
The World Living Soils Forum (FRANCE) – An annual 2-day conference highlighting innovation and challenges within the agricultural and soil space. All talks, workshops and pitches are made available online (a small number are French only) and if you can, we highly recommend attending in person.
The Budapest Soil Health Forum (HUNGARY) – At this annual forum in Hungary you’ll get the opportunity to talk to scientists and soil health stakeholders on topics from soil amendments to technical monitoring. The BSHF also have a number of online talks and events throughout the year.
ASIA
Conference on Soil Health, Human Health and Food Security (IRAN) – Starting in 2025, this conference, held in person and virtually at Shahed University, creates an interdisciplinary space for soil scientists, medical health experts and those working in agriculture. The conference is also a chance to hear the latest research from the university itself.
The International Conference on Land Degradation and Sustainable Soil Management (JAPAN) – Hosted in Tokyo in July, this international conference is a research-based event that brings together world-leading scholars on soil health.
AFRICA
Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit – Organised by the African Union, this annual summit exists to deliberate Africa’s widespread decline in soil quality and to find solutions to improving agricultural productivity.
NORTH AMERICA
The Acres Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show (USA) – An annual 4-day conference with workshops, talks and roundtables for those looking to learn more about economical and ecological agriculture. Topics include cover cropping, fertilization tactics, livestock integration and agroforestry and you’ll join a community of farmers, ranchers, agronomists, researchers and industry players committed to substantiable farming at production-scale.
Montana Soil Health Symposium (USA) – This two-day event brings together national and local speakers to discuss soil health techniques and innovation. There’s something for ranchers, farmers, growers and gardeners.
SoilCON (USA) – SoilCON is run by the Washington Soil Health Initiative, with the event offering a whole range of regional events to help people understand topics from dryland cropping to integrated livestock farming. Most events are free and can also be streamed online.
SOUTH AMERICA
Congreso Aapresid (ARGENTINA) – The Argentine No-Till Farmers Association runs an annual conference blending Argentine culture with soil care experts, agricultural modelling and sustainability showcases. Some really fascinating sessions here from past years.
World Agri-Tech South America Summit (BRAZIL) – Taking place in São Paulo at the end of June, this summit has been set up to provide in-depth insight into agricultural supply chains from farm to fork. Taking a more macro approach, it focuses on the investments, partnerships and new technologies poised to transform one of the world’s most critical food production regions.
AUSTRALASIA
Grassroots Festival (AUSTRALIA) – Grassroots is an immersive sustainable farming festival hosted by Gunningham Family Farms in North West Tasmania. The event spans two days and gathers expert speakers on soil health, alternative pasture species, livestock health, farm forestry, financial health and renewable energy amongst a good many other things!
Grounded (AUSTRALIA) - Grounded is an annual conference, field day and food festival showcasing the best thinking on regenerative farming. Hosted at Fat Pig Farm in Tasmania, the event coincides with World Soil Day (5th December) and includes training from event managers, PR and accounting experts alongside farmers, with all aspects of agricultural business being tied back to land health.
Underground Regenerative Farming Festival (NEW ZEALAND) - Set up by Fran Bailey, Underground is a new regenerative farming festival in Canterbury, connecting farmers and growers around their common ground. Sharing ways to grow food in harmony with nature and papatūānuku (mother earth), Underground inspires people to change the way they grow, shop and eat, with a little music thrown into the mix!
GLOBAL
Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health - CA4SH is a global coalition working to share resources on soil health. Their focus is on food and nutrition security, climate change, socioeconomic returns and growth, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Check up on their events page to find upcoming in person and online events.
Tropentag - Tropentag is an annual interdisciplinary conference on tropical and subtropical agriculture, natural resource management, and rural development. The event has been organized annually since 1999, and they’re trailblazers when it comes to climate smart agriculture.
If you know of any soil health events you think should be on our list please do get in touch.
SHORT COURSES
UNITED KINGDOM
How to Heal Your Soil with the Land Gardeners – Join our 13-session, introductory course for those looking to learn more about soil, compost, and its ability to improve the quality and nutrient density of plants and produce. All sessions take place online with lessons covering soil preparation, feeding, composting and monitoring. - Create Academy Course.
Soil Science: Exploring the World Beneath our Feet – Lancaster University - This 4-week additional education course introduces the basics of soil science and explores ground-breaking research taking place at the University. You’ll have the opportunity to assess soil properties and conditions, discuss global food security and learn about soil’s relation to climate change, air pollution and invasive species. - www.futurelearn.com
Unlocking the Power of Soil: A day with Dr. Elaine Ingham - These in-person talks with Elaine are a real treat if you are lucky enough to catch one. Learn about soil productivity, biological amendments and soil food webs from the world-leading soil microbiologist. Elaine’s talks often include guest experts from local networks. - https://www.soilfoodweb.com/
Soil Ecology Laboratory - the SEL runs one-day microscopy training courses to give you the ability to perform your own soil analysis or to check if the compost you are about to purchase has adequate biology for your needs. - https://soilecologylab.co.uk/microscopy-training/
EUROPE
Darina Allen and The Ballymaloe Cookery School (IRELAND) - Darina Allen is an inspirational force at the centre of food and its production in the UK. She runs a 6-week course at her cookery school and 100-acre organic farm where she teaches students how to build a viable future through food systems and culture. - www.cookingisfun.ie
The Transmission School (ITALY) - The Transmission School is an international centre that provides a number of short courses on holistic growing, living and connection to the earth. - https://www.thetransmissionschool.org/
ASIA
Bekandze Farm (INDONESIA) – This regenerative training centre in Bali has free training for Indonesian farmers, a vocational education programme and visitor courses. They also have a women’s programme to support rural women’s empowerment through organic farm products and cooperatives. - https://bekandze.net/en/
The Progyan Foundation (INDIA) – This foundation run regenerative agriculture courses focused on circularity and adaptive agroecological mitigation. Most sessions are online but they also include an onsite visit to a floating farm in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. - https://progyanfoundation.org/courses-ra.php
AFRICA
African Women Rising (UGANDA) – This two-week resilience design training course runs practical, field-based support in a refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. Participants learn how to build living soils and mitigate land degradation. - https://www.africanwomenrising.org/programs/regenerative-agriculture-training
Permaculture Paradise Institute (MALAWI) - This project offers permaculture design certificates and training in agroecology with a commitment to transforming rural communities. Their support includes farmer starter packs, supervision, cooking classes, seed banks and farmers markets. - https://permacultureinstitutemw.com/
NORTH AMERICA
Agriculture Solutions Inc. Two-day Nutrition Farming Course (USA) – Agriculture Solutions Inc. offers a deep-dive into modern agricultural practices, sustainable farming, soil health and advancements in soil technology. Check back to see when their next course opens or join their online only programmes. - https://www.agsolcanada.com/
Integrity Soils Training Courses (USA) – Nicole runs hands-on soil health courses and forums to inspire farmers to transition their grazing and growing operations. In 2025 she’s also doing a tour of Australasia where she’s taking people through the 5Ms of soil diagnostics – Mindset, management, microbes, minerals and organic matter. - https://integritysoils.com/pages/events-coming-soon
SOUTH AMERICA
Regenerative Living - Syntropic Farming is an innovative agroforestry practice originating with Ernst Gotsch's farm in Bahia, Brazil. This course introduces you to Syntropic Farming, focusing on growing food and reforesting landscapes. - https://www.regenerativeliving.online/course/syntropic-primer
AUSTRALASIA
Soil Science Australia (AUSTRALIA) - SSA run a number of workshops and short courses including for beginners. Many of these are in person and allow you to get hands on in learning about soil classification and landscape assessment. - https://www.soilscienceaustralia.org.au/events/
Open Polytechnic, Kuratini Tuwhera (NZ) - Open Polytechnic have a whole host of free and paid for online short courses including on soil and composting. On completion, you’ll be able to describe soil properties and carry out processes for making your own organic compost and growing mediums for propagation. - https://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/qualifications-and-courses/hor321-soils-and-composting/
GLOBAL
The Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International Academy – CABI offer free short courses including this one on sustainable soil management practices, which is designed for people who work in agro-services and who give advice to farmers, such as extension workers and agro-input dealers. - https://www.cabi.org/products-and-services/academy/soil-management/
If you know of any soil health short courses you think should be on our list please do get in touch.
DEGREE PROGRAMMES & UNIVERSITY COURSES
EUROPE
Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester (UK) - The RAU runs a wide variety of environmental and agricultural programmes including opportunities for professional placements. In almost all their courses soil health and science is brought to the fore. - https://www.rau.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas
SLU Uppsala (SWEDEN) – The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences houses a specialist department of Soil and the Environment that researches interactions between human, soil, plant and surrounding environments in forest, urban and agricultural landscapes. - https://www.slu.se/en/departments/soil-environment/
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NORWAY) – The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) hosts a specialist research cluster with national expertise in soil science, water science and geological processes.
University of Hohenheim (GERMANY) – The university’s Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation was founded in 1876 and is among the largest and most renowned soil science institutes in Germany.
ISARA-Lyon (FRANCE) – Isara is an engineering school that specialises in agriculture, agribusiness and the environment. Its research explores questions like: ‘How to feed the world’, and it host annual summer schools on themes including sustainable agriculture and food heritage. - https://isara.fr/en/
The Instituto Superior de Agronomia (PORTUGAL) – This agricultural school is the largest in Portugal and it runs a wide variety of agroecological courses out of its environmental and botanical park, Tapada da Ajuda in Lisbon. - https://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/en/presentation/isa-school-of-agriculture
Warsaw University of Life Sciences (POLAND) – The Faculty of Agriculture and Biology leads soil science courses including a programme in organic agriculture and food production.
Linnaeus University (SWEDEN) – Based in Kalmar, this university has soil science research groups including the study of wastewater treatment, soil contamination and the systems biology of microorganisms.
L’institut Agro (FRANCE) – Based in Dijon, this university has a number of research and training programmes on soil health and food science.
Wageningen University (NETHERLANDS) – Wageningen University has a soil science research cluster with a mission to advance understanding of dynamic interactions between physical, biological and chemical soil properties and processes. - https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/environmental-sciences/soil-science-cluster.htm
Agro Paris-Saclay Campus (FRANCE) - Dedicated to promoting innovation in the areas of environmental science and industry, one third of this agricultural school is allocated to laboratories including experimental greenhouses, growth chambers and a food technology hall. - https://www.agroparistech.fr/en/institution/one-institution-8-campuses/agro-paris-saclay-campus
Czech University of Life Sciences (CZECHIA) - In the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, the Czech University of Life Sciences hosts an entire department for soil science and soil protection. - https://www.af.czu.cz/en/r-9371-departments
Lycée Agro-Écologique, Saltus Campus (FRANCE) - Valentine de Ganay farms regeneratively and grows and sells fruit and vegetables from the walled garden at Château de Courances. She also co-founded Lycée agroécologique Saltus Campus, the first agroecological high school in France, to ensure organic food is accessible to all. - https://www.saltuscampus.fr/
The NBSOIL Academy – This two-year training course is for people living in Europe currently working as, or aspiring to be, soil and agricultural advisors. The aim is to improve nature-based advice across all land use sectors with modules ranging from business and policy to soil health monitoring and mapping. - https://nbsoil.eu/soil-academy/
NORTH AMERICA
Agricultural Ecology at UC Davis (USA)– An agricultural ecology programme spanning the study of agricultural organisms, system-level interactions and ecological principles. This course also includes agronomic practices to help manage agricultural production sustainably. - https://ecology.ucdavis.edu/agricultural-ecology
The Rodale Institute (USA) – The Rodale Institute runs a number of farmer training programmes, workshops and internships for those wanting to get hands on and improve the future of food. These courses are a jumpstart for anyone starting a career in organic agriculture. - https://rodaleinstitute.org/education/training-programs/
Michigan State University (USA) – Michigan State has its own Centre for Regenerative Agriculture, which runs research to help provide meaningful metrics to farmers and the supply chain. - https://www.canr.msu.edu/regenerative-agriculture/
University of Guelph (CANADA) – UoG runs a project called Soils at Guelph that is advancing sustainable soil management in Ontario by making research accessible to farmers, industry, policy makers and the public. - https://soilsatguelph.ca/about/
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (MEXICO) - UNAM have a specialised sustainable soils research group which hosts students from their various organic and sustainable agriculture courses. - https://www.iies.unam.mx/laboratorios/suelos-sustentables/cursos-regulares/
ASIA
China Agricultural University (CHINA) – CAU has nine departments including specialisms in crop genetics, plant pathology, fruit science and entomology. - https://en.cau.edu.cn/index.html
Zhejiang University (CHINA) - The agricultural and biotechnology college at Zhejiang has departments including crop science, vegetable science, pesticide and environmental toxicology, and agronomy. - http://www.cab.zju.edu.cn/en/6709/list.htm
Northwest A&F University, Yangling (CHINA) - This school runs a doctoral programme in Agricultural Resources and Environment that focuses on environment pollution, restoration and recycling utilization of agricultural resources -https://en.nwsuaf.edu.cn/admission/supervisors/co041/programs3/index.htm
South China Agricultural, Guangzhou (CHINA) - SCAU runs a number of land-focused courses from their agricultural school and also host a specific department for seed science. - https://nxy.scau.edu.cn/nxyenglish/main.psp
AFRICA
Stellenbosch University (SOUTH AFRICA) - Stellenbosch’s Department of Soil Science teaches and conducts research in all the major sub-disciplines of soil science including soil formation and classification, soil mapping and land evaluation, soil chemistry, soil fertility, soil physics, soil water management, soil hydrology, remote sensing of soils, soil biology and soil ecology. - https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/departments/soil-science
University of Kwazulu-Natal (SOUTH AFRICA) - This School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences has had a significant influence on this continent for over sixty years – from pigs, poultry, papaws and pecans through to farm finance, food security and agricultural development. - https://saees.ukzn.ac.za/
SOUTH AMERICA
Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (BRAZIL) - This university soil science department has a specific focus on crop fertilization; plant mineral nutrition; and soil microbiology. - https://en.esalq.usp.br/departments/soil-science
Universidade Federal de Lavras (BRAZIL) - This soil science programme includes research and teaching in soil fertility and waste utilization; dynamics and nutrient availability; plant metabolism and carbon in the soil-plant system; as well as the biofortication of foods. - https://sigaa.ufla.br/sigaa/public/programa/apresentacao.jsf?lc=en_US&id=1703
AUSTRALASIA
Massey University (NZ) – The Whenua Haumanu course at Massey is one of the country’s most comprehensive programme on the effects of contemporary and regenerative pastoral practices. Not only looking at soil biology, it extends to nutrient leaching, pasture growth, carbon capture, animal production and the quality of milk, meat and wool products. - https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/colleges-schools-and-institutes/college-of-sciences/our-research/themes-and-research-strengths/whenua-haumanu/
Lincoln University (NZ) - The Department of Soil and Physical Sciences at Lincoln University has degree programmes including modules on soil nutrient cycling, rhizosphere processes, nitrate leaching, soil-landscape modelling and even Antarctic soils. - https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/about-us/academic-departments/soil-and-physical-sciences/
University of Western Australia (AUSTRALIA) - UWA runs a number of multidisciplinary programmes that highlight the influence of land management practices and climate variability on agricultural soils. - https://www.uwa.edu.au/research-disciplines/agricultural-science
If you know of any soil health degree or further education programmes you think should be on our list please do get in touch.