On-farm assessment of soil quality and health is recommended to assist farmers evaluate the effects of their management decisions on soil productivity. Also, this approach permits interaction between researchers, extension people when providing interpretation to link on-farm knowledge to soil health information. The main challenge is to develop soil health measures to assess changes which are practical and useful to farmers aiming high crop production, making them food-secure. This assessment will also include gender issues and local knowledge that farmers are able to accurately predict soil quality differences of conventional and organic fields.

The project has 3 phases and consists three-step framework: indicator selection for soil health, interpretation, and integration of data collected. It will evaluate soil quality by focusing first at the project goals, identifies the soil functions associated to soil health and food security, and will develop key indicators associated with each of the functions. Interpretations in terms of performance of soil functions with site-specific controlling factors in the respective farms will be performed (Phase 1 and 2).  

The project is guided by effective study programs/activities, which would guarantee the collation of the necessary baseline data in order to develop appropriate minimum datasets (Phase 3). Since soil quality evaluation is based on expert opinion, statistical procedures will also be accomplished All indicators will be subjected to standard descriptive statistics. Education programs that include trainings and meetings on the use of soil quality tools, standards and techniques are part of the project to increase awareness that being food-secure is related to soil health. The need to improve public awareness about soil resources is relevant to help them understand how soil management decisions affect not only the soil itself but other important resources (i.e. water and air quality) as well.