Disclosed herein is a method for stabilising a volume of soil (e.g. a volume of soil that defines a road base or a road sub-base). The method comprises applying a coating agent comprising one or more salts of fatty acids derived from coconut oil to the soil, whereby soil particles in the soil are coated with the coating agent, and then applying to the soil a setting agent comprising a metallic salt that is capable of reacting with the one or more salts of fatty acids derived from coconut oil, whereupon a set product is formed. The soil is subsequently compacted, whereby the coated soil particles are consolidated.