At Generation Soil CIC, we are transforming Bristol’s food waste into biologically complete, living soil. Unlike conventional compost, living soil cannot be mass-produced. It requires time, care, knowledge, and a commitment to working on a local scale. This deliberate and thoughtful process ensures a rich, living product that nourishes plants, promotes biodiversity, and supports sustainable food systems. Once ready, we distribute our living soil to members and projects throughout the city, creating a closed-loop system of soil regeneration and local food production.
What is living soil?
Living soil is the foundation of life on Earth, underpinning 95% of the food we eat. Beneath our feet lies an entire ecosystem of microscopic life: mycelium, nematodes, bacteria, fungi, and billions of other microorganisms. These tiny but mighty organisms form the soil food web, working in harmony to retain nutrients, break down minerals, and make them available to plants.
The benefits of living soil go far beyond plant nutrition. Its complex biological makeup creates structure, prevents compaction, and strengthens the soil's resilience. For example, mycelium forms an intricate network that improves soil’s ability to absorb and retain water, reducing the risk of flooding. Acting like a sponge, living soil holds moisture while keeping ecosystems alive and thriving. This makes it a vital resource not just for food production but for maintaining the health of our planet.
How Do We Make Living Soil?
The journey to living soil begins with food waste. We collect this valuable resource from homes and businesses across Bristol, giving it a second life as a foundation for regeneration.
Step 1: Fermentation with Bokashi
Once collected, food waste is sprinkled with bokashi—a mixture of bran, molasses, and beneficial microorganisms. Bokashi fermentation pre-composts the waste, kickstarting the decomposition process while preserving valuable nutrients.
Step 2: In-Vessel Composting
The pre-treated food waste is then mixed with locally sourced woodchips, biochar, and barley malt extract in our in-vessel composting units. Over ten days, a microbial phase breaks down the organic matter into rich compost.
Step 3: Maturation in Static Bays
The compost is transferred to static bays to mature. This final stage allows the soil to develop its full biological complexity, ensuring it’s teeming with life and ready to nourish the land.
Through this careful, science-backed process, we create living soil that is not only nutrient-rich but also packed with the microorganisms essential for regenerating ecosystems.
“But I Already Get My Food Waste Collected by Bristol City Council?”
You may wonder why you should choose our food waste collection service when Bristol City Council already provides one. While the council’s service is commendable for keeping organic waste out of landfills, the processing method differs significantly from ours.
Industrial Anaerobic Digestion vs. Living Soil Creation
The council processes food waste at an anaerobic biodigester in Avonmouth. Here, waste is broken down in the absence of oxygen, producing methane-rich biogas used to generate renewable electricity or gas for the grid. The process also produces municipal compost, which is often of low quality, with limited beneficial organic life. In some cases, it may contain contaminants like plastic, compromising its utility for soil health.
By contrast, Generation Soil CIC uses food waste to create biologically complete, living soil. This soil:
Sequesters carbon by storing it long-term in the ground.
Prevents methane release that occurs in landfills or during anaerobic digestion.
Supports ecosystems with rich biodiversity and no contaminants.
Our process prioritizes regeneration over disposal, turning waste into a resource that actively improves the environment. By choosing our service, you support a system that gives back to the earth, fostering sustainability from the ground up.
Additionally, we don't want to hate on what Bristol Waste Company, GenEco, and Bristol City Council are doing. They are creating circular economies for our food system at a vast scale. However, we can produce much better quality compost for growing food.
Local Solutions for a Global Problem
Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss may seem like daunting, global issues. However, the solutions often start at home. Through our food waste collection service and commitment to creating living soil, Generation Soil CIC demonstrates how small, local actions can drive meaningful change.
Living soil offers a multitude of benefits for people and the planet:
Improves Soil Health: Adds organic matter, nutrients, and microbial life.
Reduces Carbon Footprint: Diverts food waste from landfills and locks carbon into the soil.
Enhances Biodiversity: Supports a wide range of organisms, from microbes to plants and insects.
Restores Water Cycles: Improves soil’s water retention, reducing the risk of flooding.
Promotes Sustainable Agriculture: Provides a natural alternative to synthetic fertilizers.
By participating in our initiative, you’re contributing to a regenerative system that doesn’t just prevent waste but actively restores the land.
The Impact of Your Choices
Every time you scrape leftovers off your plate, consider this: where will your food waste end up? Will it contribute to a cycle of waste, or will it become part of a regenerative process that enriches the soil and nurtures the planet?
Choosing Generation Soil CIC means choosing a sustainable future. You’re not only reducing your environmental footprint but also investing in the health of your local community and ecosystems.
Join Us in Building a Regenerative Future
At Generation Soil CIC, we believe in the power of local solutions to address global challenges. By turning food waste into living soil, we’re closing the loop on waste and laying the foundation for a healthier planet.
Whether you’re a household or business in Bristol, your food waste can be part of the solution. By supporting our work, you’re joining a movement that values regeneration, sustainability, and community.
Together, we can transform food waste into fertile, living soil—building a future where ecosystems thrive, food systems are resilient, and communities prosper.
The next time you consider throwing food scraps away, think again. Join Generation Soil CIC and be part of the living soil revolution. Let’s regenerate the earth, one handful of soil at a time.
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