New Zealand’s First Earthworm eDNA Soil Test - A Breakthrough in Agricultural Applications

Added 9 months ago

By Hawke's Bay Future Farming Trust

New Zealand’s First Earthworm eDNA Soil Test - A Breakthrough in Agricultural Applications

New Zealand farmers now have a groundbreaking tool to assess earthworm presence in soil. Hill Labs, in collaboration with AgResearch, has introduced New Zealand’s first earthworm eDNA soil test, a major step forward in evaluating soil health. This innovative test detects tiny traces of genetic material (eDNA) left by earthworms, who play a critical role in soil aeration and nutrient cycling.

Earthworms are a key indicator of soil health, with thriving populations typically exceeding 400 worms per square metre in New Zealand pasture soils. Conventional assessment methods are labor-intensive, involving spade digging, sample separation, and manual worm counting—a time-consuming process that demands specialist expertise. The new eDNA test offers a complementary, efficient alternative to traditional visual assessments, enhancing soil health monitoring without the need for extensive manual labor.

Hill Labs’ founder, Dr. Roger Hill, emphasized the test’s role in promoting sustainable agriculture in New Zealand, highlighting soil’s importance for farming, plant health, and water quality. Hill Labs’ scientists Lisa Hsu and Sara Loeffen collaborated with Dr. Nicole Schon, an earthworm expert from AgResearch, to develop the test, with support from the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge.

In addition to earthworm monitoring, Hill Labs and AgResearch are consulting with industry experts to broaden the test’s future applications to pest and pathogen detection, further supporting New Zealand’s sustainable agriculture goals.