Smart Tools Help Farmers Restore Soil Health

Jun 26, 2025
By Farms.com

TUdi Unveils Digital Apps for Better Soil Tracking and Analysis

Regenerative agriculture is receiving a technological boost with the launch of advanced tools by the TUdi project. This international initiative supports soil restoration through science-based strategies and innovative applications.

The project’s newly launched Decision Support Tools (DSTs) are designed to help farmers assess and track soil conditions in real time. These tools are now available online and through the TUdi smartphone app. Farmers can upload photos and field data to monitor soil health and detect issues early.

The six DSTs focus on critical factors like soil erosion, fertilization, compaction, carbon content, biology, and structure. With these tools, farmers can measure change over time and take action to restore soil more effectively.

To further assist, TUdi introduced the Socio-Economic Toolkit to Support Soil Restoration (SEST). This desktop tool offers detailed financial analysis, helping producers make smart, cost-effective choices when adopting soil restoration practices.

"Sensor-based systems, AI and real-time analytics are transforming how dairies make everyday decisions,” a researcher said, reinforcing the value of such tools in today’s agriculture.

Both the TUdi and TUdiSEST platforms are supported with instructional videos available on the TUdi website and YouTube. While currently in English, translations into more languages are in progress.

These resources aim to equip farmers worldwide with the knowledge and digital tools needed to improve soil health and promote sustainable agricultural practices for generations to come.

The TUdi project is a joint project sponsored by the European Union and China.

Video: EP 70 Maximizing Soil Function – Stories of Regeneration Part 3

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community.

In the soil, you’ve got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age.

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.