Why soil is important
Soil is vital to life on earth. Soils are home to more than 25 per cent of our planet’s biodiversity and 95 per cent of the world’s food comes from soil and soil organisms.
Soil provides essential ecosystem services that support and contribute to Australia’s economic, environmental, and social wellbeing, including food and fibre production; water storage, filtration and nutrient cycling; and carbon storage.
Australia has ancient soils that are typically low in organic matter and nutrients and are susceptible to erosion. A changing climate, increasing pressure to produce more food and fibre, and increasing population pressures pose major challenges for the successful management of our fragile soil.
National Soil Strategy
The National Soil Strategy, released in May 2021 is Australia’s first national policy on soil. It sets out how Australia will value, manage and improve its soil for the next 20 years.
The Strategy prioritises soil health, empowers soil innovation and stewards, and strengthens soil knowledge and capability.
These priorities were identified through research and practice, government policies and programs, and by consulting with governments, industry, researchers, farmers and other land managers across Australia.
Collaboration was a key feature in the development of the National Soil Strategy. It has been developed by the Australian Government, state and territory governments, the National Soils Advocate and the soil community to secure and protect Australia’s soil for the future.
The National Soil Strategy will also support Australia’s domestic and international commitments towards a more sustainable future and help to build more resilient agricultural communities adapted to a changing climate. These measures will be necessary to help to deliver the Australian agriculture sector’s goal of being a $100 billion industry by 2030.
It is part of a broader National Soil Package and supports other programs including:
- Agriculture Stewardship Program
- Future Drought Fund
- Australian Collaborative Land Use Mapping Program
- Threatened Species Strategy.
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National Soil Strategy (PDF 12.1 MB)
National Soil Strategy (DOCX 2.6 MB)
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Previous programs
The Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program concluded on 31 December 2022. Data from this program will be publicly available on the Australian National Soil Information System shortly.
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Outcomes of the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program (PDF 244 KB)
Outcomes of the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program (DOCX 940 KB)
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Applications for soil sampling and testing under the pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program closed on 23 December 2022, with all soil sampling completed by 28 February 2023. Data from this program will be publicly available on the Australian National Soil Information System shortly. The department is consolidating lessons learned from this pilot program to inform future approaches to soil monitoring.
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Outcomes of the pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program (PDF 270 KB)
Outcomes of the pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program (DOCX 264 KB)
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The Soil Science Challenge grant funding round closed on 14 February 2022. The successful funding recipients are:
- $3.94 million to the University of Western Australia (in collaboration with the University of Adelaide and University of Western Sydney) to provide an in-depth understanding of soil physical and chemical processes in response to biological inputs that complement chemical fertilisers to maximise productivity.
- $2.84 million to the University of Adelaide (in collaboration with the South Australian Research and Development Institute) to research the diversity of Australian soils using DNA technology to measure, understand and reverse soil decline, providing a basis to improve soil biology in farming systems.
- $2.69 million to the University of Sydney to better understand the diversity, function, and impact of Australian soils viruses and their links to soil health and productivity.
- $1.10 million to the University of New South Wales (in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) to provide insight into the use of nano materials (including waste materials) in soils, as an innovative approach to assist in improving soil carbon sequestration.
- $1.97 million to the University of Melbourne (in collaboration with the University of Western Sydney and Murdoch University) to develop new standardised approaches and tools for farmers to manage soil fauna across different agricultural industries.
- $1.78 million to the University of Melbourne (in collaboration with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Queensland Department of Environment and Science) to quantify and understand the causes and consequences of soil organic carbon decline in Australian cropping systems, to improve productivity and improve understanding of carbon sequestration.
- $1.67 million to the University of Sydney (in collaboration with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) to develop an improved spatial understanding of how soils behave in the Australian landscape to enable better advice for farmers and primary producers on land management strategies.
- $1.59 million to the University of Queensland (in collaboration with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) to develop new nitrogen fertiliser strategies for the more effective and efficient use of nitrogen to benefit Australia’s cropping producers.
- $0.80 million to the Queensland University of Technology to improve rangeland management in the Northern Australian pastoral zone, including developing strategies for improving carbon storage and productivity on those pastoral lands.
- $0.77 million to the University of Sydney to explore the interaction of various components in soils to better understand linkages and benefit to soil carbon sequestration
- $0.52 million to the University of Queensland to better understand the application of phosphorous in soils to increase agricultural productivity.
This new research will add to Australia’s soil health knowledge and address soil-related research priorities including soil carbon dynamics; soil hydrology; soil biology and nutrients; or soil/root interface.
Who oversees implementation of the National Soil Strategy
The National Soil Strategy Implementation Steering Committee (NSSISC), including the National Soils Advocate, oversees implementation of the National Soil Strategy by providing technical advice and recommendations to the department. The NSSISC also champions, supports and drives implementation of the Strategy’s three main objectives including: to prioritise soil health, empower soil innovation and stewards, and strengthen soil knowledge and capability.
NSSISC is overseeing the development of the National Action Plan.
Name | Position | Organisation |
---|---|---|
Government members | ||
Mr Nick Blong (Chair) | First Assistant Secretary, Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Division | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
Ms Kaz Graham | A/g Assistant Secretary, National Soil Policy and Programs Branch | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
Ms Alannah Pentony | Assistant Secretary, Emissions Reduction | Australian Government Department of Industry, Energy, Science and Resources |
Mr Ben Macdonald | Research Director, Sustainability, CSIRO Agriculture and Food | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) |
Ms Anna van Dugteren | Natural Resource Management Facilitator | ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate |
Mr Jason Hill | Director, Land Assessment and Geospatial Services | NT Government, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security |
Dr Warwick Dougherty | Director, Soil and Water Research and Development | NSW Department of Primary Industries |
Mr Stephen Potts | Director, Landscape Sciences | Qld Department of Environment and Science |
Mr Brett Bartel | Director, Recovery | SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions |
Mr Saint Rooks | Branch Manager, Natural Values Section Leader – Natural Assets Spatial Intelligence | Tas Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment |
Ms Angela Avery | Research Director, Agriculture Resources Sciences, Agriculture Victoria | Vic Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions |
Mr Tim Overheu | Team Leader, Soil Resource Science | WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development |
Non-Government members | ||
The Hon. Penelope Wensley AC | National Soils Advocate | Independent member supported by the Office of the National Soils Advocate |
Dr Cristina Martinez | Manager, Soils & Nutrition (South) | Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) |
Ms Anna Boustead | Coordinator | Indigenous Carbon Industry Network |
Mr Allan Peake | Project Manager, Sustainable Feedbase Resources | Meat & Livestock Australia |
Mr Warwick Ragg | General Manager, Natural Resource Management | National Farmers Federation |
Mr Chris Norman | Chief Executive Officer, NRM Regions Qld | Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions Australia |
Dr Michael Crawford | Chief Executive Officer | Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC) |
Associate Professor Vanessa Wong | President | Soil Science Australia |
The National Soils Advocate
The position of the National Soils Advocate was established in 2012 to raise awareness of the vital role of soils. The role provided advocacy on the importance of conserving and improving the health of soils both in Australia and to address global challenges, including food security and climate change.
The term of the most recent National Soils Advocate, the former Governor of Queensland the Hon Penelope Wensley AC, concluded on 28 August 2023. Further information on Advancing Australia's national soils agenda.
The Australian Government recognises the strong leadership and commitment from both of Australia’s National Soils Advocates – the former Governor General the late Major General the Hon Michael Jeffery, AC, AO, CVO (Mil), MC and Ms Wensley – over the past decade, which have contributed significantly to promoting and strengthening our understanding of the value of soil for agriculture and the environment.
The exemplary service and significant contribution and leadership by both Advocates has driven significant national and international awareness of soils and provided a robust foundation for Australia’s recognition, cooperation and prioritisation of soil.