National Soil Package

Why do we need to protect and improve Australia’s soils?

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 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.

While it is hard to accurately quantify the cost of soil erosion in Australia, the cost of dust storms alone in New South Wales is estimated at $9 million per year. More recently it has been estimated that about 33 per cent of global soil is degraded.

What is the National Soil Strategy?

The National Soil Strategy 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. It was released in May 2021.

The Strategy prioritises soil health, empowers soil innovation and stewards, and strengthens soil knowledge and capability.

These priorities have been identified through research and practical examples, government policies and programs, and by consulting with governments, industry, researchers, farmers and other land managers across Australia.

Collaboration is 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.

It will enable farmers to increase their ability to build farm resilience by planning and maintaining environmental plantings to protect soil.

The National Soil Strategy will also support Australia’s domestic and international commitments towards a more sustainable future, such as the Australian agriculture sector’s goal of being a $100 billion industry by 2030, and the Australian Government’s priority of building resilience in our communities and adapting to a changing climate.

It is part of a broader National Soil Package and supports other programs including:

• Agriculture Stewardship Program
• Bushfire Recovery Program
• Future Drought Fund
• Australian Collaborative Land Use Mapping Program
• Threatened Species Strategy.

What is included in the National Soil Package?

The National Soil Package is a $214.9 million funding package including $196.9 million of new funding through the 2021-22 Budget over four years to implement the National Soil Strategy and the associated Commonwealth Interim Action Plan.

This includes:

• $5.9 million to implement the National Soil Strategy. The implementation of the Strategy includes the development of a National Action Plan by June 2022. The Action Plan will help identify current programs across Australia that support Australia’s soil health and may help identify gaps where new funding and resources can be directed.
• $54.4 million for a two-year Pilot Soil Monitoring and Incentives Program where land managers will be able to access low cost soil sampling and Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC)-certified testing in exchange for sharing their data.
  This Program aims to increase the frequency and quality of soil testing by land managers and to provide access to this data in a secure national platform under established rules and processes.
• $2 million for a review of existing soil data to establish the quality, quantity and distribution of information across Australia and identify gaps in soil knowledge. The review will inform the scale and value of the incentives so that they can be targeted in a way that will capture the most useful soil information both for government and stakeholder objectives in a cost-efficient manner.
• $15 million to develop the Australian National Soil Information System to store soil data, track and report trends and changes in soil health, and be used to monitor the impact of land management practices and environmental shocks over time. The enhancement of a publicly available and federated soil information platform will support decision makers to identify gaps and opportunities to manage and improve Australia’s soil assets.
• $21 million to pay private and public entities to provide existing soil data to be incorporated into the redeveloped ASRIS.
• $18 million of existing funding from the National Landcare Program’s Smart Farms Small Grants initiative will be redirected to soil extension activities that encourage farmers to test their soil and help them interpret and act on results. See Australian Government investment in Landcare for more information. 
  The department is currently investigating options to engage soil extension officers as soon as possible.
• $615,000 to develop a National Land Management Practices Classification System.
  A National Land Management Practices Classification System will be developed, tested and implemented by ABARES over two years in consultation with key land management stakeholders. The classification system will categorise and explain different land management practices across the country and will help map and track management practices across the country and their effect on soil health. The new system will provide further detail on management practices, currently not captured in the current Australian Land Use and Management Classification System. Work on the classification system is already underway.
• $1 million to enhance soil education and expertise
  A new accreditation in soil science will be developed to improve the knowledge base of land management advisors.
• $20 million over four years for a Soil Science Challenge Grants Program
  The grants program will support researchers to address fundamental gaps in soil science and improve our understanding of how to better manage soil. The first grant application period is anticipated to open in the late 2021.
• $67 million for the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund
  A fund to support the diversion of household and commercial food and garden organic waste (FOGO) from landfill to soil via the expansion of existing FOGO processing infrastructure and capacity.

For more information see budget fact sheets and Portfolio Budget Statements at www.awe.gov.au/budget.

What is the Commonwealth Interim Action Plan?

A Commonwealth Interim Action Plan has been developed to outline the Australian Government’s commitment to implementing the National Soil Strategy. The Interim Action Plan outlines high level actions that are being undertaken to support the Strategy. The actions in the plan will ensure that soil continues to contribute to agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
Engagement and collaboration will continue through the development of a National Action Plan, which will be delivered by June 2022.

What role does the National Soils Advocate play?

A National Soils Advocate is the first role of its kind internationally. The position of Advocate was established in 2012 to raise awareness of the vital role soils play and to provide leadership and advocacy on the importance of conserving and improving the health of Australia's soils.

Who will oversee the implementation of the National Soil Package?

The National Soil Strategy Implementation Steering Committee (NSSISC) including the National Soils Advocate will oversee the implementation of the Package.

The NSSISC provides technical advice and recommendations to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) regarding the implementation of the National Soil Strategy.

NSSISC 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 due for completion by 30 June 2022.

National Soil Strategy Implementation Steering Committee (NSSISC)

Endorsement of the National Soil Strategy

The National Soil Strategy has been endorsed by all state and territory jurisdictions.

• Queensland Minister for Agriculture Industry Development and Fisheries, the Hon. Mark Furner MP
• New South Wales Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Adam Marshall MP
• Victorian Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP
• The Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC
• The Northern Territory Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture, the Hon Nicole Manison
• The Australian Capital Territory Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti MLA
• The Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industry and Water, the Hon. Guy Barnett MP
• The South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Hon David Basham MP

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