Earthworm Welfare and Soil Health

Earthworms are foundational to soil ecosystems, processing organic matter and maintaining soil structure, yet they are killed in vast numbers by intensive farming and chemical use.

Key Facts

UK earthworm populations have declined by one-third since the 1970s in intensively farmed soils
Around 7 billion earthworms may inhabit a healthy hectare of farmland
Ploughing kills earthworms directly through physical injury and surface exposure
Pesticides including fungicides cause earthworm mortality and sublethal behavioural effects
Earthworms have been shown to respond to noxious stimuli with avoidance learning — a possible pain indicator

Welfare Considerations

The welfare status of earthworms is uncertain but emerging evidence suggests they respond to noxious stimuli in ways that warrant precautionary consideration. The scale of earthworm mortality from intensive farming — physical destruction by tillage, chemical toxicity from pesticides and loss of organic matter food source — is enormous. Reducing tillage, eliminating synthetic pesticides and restoring soil organic matter would improve earthworm welfare while delivering ecosystem service benefits.

What You Can Do

Reduce or eliminate synthetic pesticide and herbicide use in your garden
Practice no-dig gardening to minimise earthworm mortality from cultivation
Add compost and organic matter to soil to support earthworm food and habitat quality
Advocate for reduced tillage and organic farming approaches in agricultural policy discussions