Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Farming, food and rural support
  4. Natural resources
  5. National Soil Strategy

Sidebar first - Farming

  • Natural resources
    • Ecosystem services
      • Ecosystem Services Report
      • Relationships between land management practices and soil condition
    • Landcare
      • Climate-smart sustainable agriculture
        • Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators
      • Landcare publications
      • Australian Framework for Landcare
      • National Landcare Program
        • Australian Government investment in Landcare
        • Landcare Awards
        • Landcare Facilitators
        • National Landcare Conference
      • National Landcare Advisory Committee
      • Landcare tax benefits
      • Agriculture Biodiversity Stewardship Package
    • Natural Resource Publications
    • Australian Government Reef Programme
    • Salinity
      • Salinity Mapping
        • What is airborne electromagnetics?
    • National Soil Strategy
      • National Soil Action Plan
        • Australian National Soil Information System (ANSIS)
      • National Soil Monitoring Program
      • Soil Science Challenge Grants Program
      • Ground cover monitoring for Australia
      • National Soil RD&E Strategy
    • Vegetation
      • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
      • Rangelands
      • Weeds

National Soil Strategy

The National Soil Action Plan 2023 to 2028 is now available. Visit the National Soil Action Plan page to find out more.

Why soil is important

Soil, like air and water, is a fundamental need for life on earth. Soil is home to more than 25 per cent of our planet’s biodiversity and 95 per cent of the world’s food comes from soil.

Australia has some of the most stunning natural landscapes on the planet. We are also internationally renowned for our high-quality agriculture industry. However, the health of our soil continues to decline. Australian soil also faces many challenges, including erosion, acidification and salinisation.

Managing and preserving soil health are a critical part of a climate smart and sustainable agriculture industry. Soil is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and plays a role in resilience to natural disasters.

National Soil Strategy

The National Soil Strategy is Australia’s first national policy on soil. It was released in May 2021 and sets out how Australia will value, manage and improve our soil for the next 20 years.

The strategy’s 3 goals are:

  1. prioritise soil health
  2. empower soil innovation and stewards
  3. strengthen soil knowledge and capability.

We identified these priorities through research, government policies and programs. We also consulted with governments, industry, researchers, farmers and other land managers across Australia.

Download

National Soil Strategy (PDF 12.1 MB)
National Soil Strategy (DOCX 2.6 MB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Who oversees implementation of the National Soil Strategy

The National Soil Strategy Implementation Steering Committee (NSSISC) oversees implementation of the National Soil Strategy, by providing technical advice and recommendations to the department. The NSSISC promotes and drives forward the Strategy’s three main goals.

The NSSISC is also overseeing the implementation of the National Soil Action Plan.

NSSISC membership includes representatives from:

  • The Australian Government:
    • Chair – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
    • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
  • State and territory Primary Industries/Environment government departments.
  • Non-government bodies:
    • The Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC)
    • Soil Science Australia
    • Meat and Livestock Australia
    • Grains Research and Development Corporation
    • Indigenous Carbon Industry Network
    • Natural Resource Management Regions Australia
    • National Farmers' Federation.

The Soil Science Challenge grant funding round closed on 14 February 2022. Information on the program and successful funding recipients can be found on the Soil Science Challenge Grants Program page.

Previous programs

The Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program concluded on 31 December 2022.

Download

Outcomes of the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program (PDF 244 KB)
Outcomes of the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program (DOCX 940 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

The pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program closed on 23 December 2022.

Download

Outcomes of the pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program (PDF 270 KB)
Outcomes of the pilot Soil Monitoring Incentives Program (DOCX 264 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 23 July 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram