An international team of researchers led by our Physics Department is developing a new way to tackle soil degradation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Soil acidification is a major problem across sub-Saharan Africa as it reduces crop yields and makes farming harder.
Many existing treatments are expensive or difficult to apply, and some do not last long in the soil.
Now, a research team led by Professor Kislon Voïtchovsky of our Physics Department, will explore how to help farmers grow higher volumes of food on healthier land using affordable and easily sourced materials.
The project brings together physical science, agriculture and close work with partners in sub-Saharan Africa.
A growing challenge for farmers
Many existing treatments for degraded soil are expensive or difficult to apply.
The research team is responding to this challenge with a fresh approach that starts from the basics of how soil works.
They will examine how water, nutrients and particles interact in soil. By applying new understanding of these processes, they hope to design better, more sustainable solutions to protect soil.
The aim is to go beyond current treatments and develop methods that can be adapted to the specific conditions found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Turning waste into a solution
The team will create small composite particles using dolomite, which is naturally abundant, and biodegradable materials made from agricultural waste.
These particles are designed to release nutrients slowly and help to stabilise soil acidity.
They also improve the soil's ability to hold water.
Professor Voïtchovsky explained: "We are taking a different approach by focusing on the fundamental physical principles that govern how water, ions, particles and soil structure interact across different scales.
"By understanding and controlling these mechanisms, we aim to optimise the nutrient and ion release from the particles, overcoming limitations of current treatments and enabling low-cost soil treatments tailored to specific environments."
Building skills and strong partnerships
The project also aims to build a strong research network between the UK and Africa to support early career physical science researchers in Kenya and South Africa.
The team includes researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UK, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, the University of Embu and the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), both in Kenya.
The project has secured funding from the UK Government's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) through the International Science Partnerships Fund.
From the red soils of Kenya to the wider fields of sub-Saharan Africa, this initiative shows that the future of farming lies not just in science, but in solutions shaped by local knowledge, materials, and communities turning soil restoration into a pathway for resilience, productivity, and sustainable growth.
