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
  6. National Soil RD&E Strategy

Sidebar first - Farming

  • 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

National Soil RD&E Strategy

​​​​For the first time Australia has a national, coordinated and forward thinking approach to managing our soil.

The National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy - 'Securing Australia’s soil for profitable industries and healthy landscapes' (soil RD&E strategy) will ensure soils research becomes more targeted and collaborative and that research will better meet the needs of farmers. There will also be better information and tools available on soil use and management.

The soil RD&E strategy:

  • provides an overview of soil RD&E in Australia, including challenges and drivers for soil RD&E
  • considers current investment and capability in soil RD&E
  • presents a future RD&E plan, including goals and strategic directions
  • considers roles and responsibilities and co-investment
  • provides a set of implementation actions.

The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Barnaby Joyce, released the soil RD&E strategy in March 2014.

[collapse all]

What are the goals of the strategy?

The soil RD&E strategy goals include:

  • improved co-investment
  • improved access to quality soil data and information
  • improved communication and sharing of soil knowledge
  • adopting of a national approach to building future skills and capacity
  • collaboration on the development and use of physical infrastructure such as laboratories, equipment, long-term field sites and soil archives.

Supporting these goals are a set of soil research and development strategic directions that will consider:

  • how to improve soil management to increase productivity and profitability
  • how to improve the mapping, modelling, monitoring and forecasting of soil-related issues
  • finding ways to manage soil and sub-soil constraints
  • improving our understanding of soil’s role in delivering ecosystem services
  • determining how soil can be better managed across the landscape to deliver outcomes for farmers and the broader community.

For more detailed information about the goals and the anticipated outcomes of the strategy please read the summary.

How was the strategy developed?

The soil RD&E strategy was developed in collaboration with Australian, state and territory governments; CSIRO; rural research and development corporations, industry, tertiary education and consultancy sectors. More than 380 stakeholders contributed to the development of the strategy.

A Reference Group consisting of representatives from these sectors was established to guide the strategy, a Development Team comprised of a subset of this group was formed to lead the day-to-day work and Terms of Reference were agreed to by all parties.

What does a national soil RD&E strategy mean for stakeholders?

The implementation of the strategy will contribute to:

  • improved agricultural productivity and profitability
  • global food security and increased agricultural exports
  • a sustainable regional Australia, including the development of northern Australia
  • delivery of ecosystem services such as clean water and air
  • adaptation to a variable climate, including drought
  • adequate skills and capabilities across soil science and agriculture
  • achievements against Australia’s national soil research priorities
  • improvements to Australia’s input into to international soil-related initiatives.

Some of the benefits to stakeholders are outlined below:

Image showing what does this mean for stakeholders for industry, researchers and educators and policy makers? 

Where to from here?

Strategy implementation will start in April 2014 and will commence with the formation of a national implementation committee and establishment of subject-specific working groups. Further detail about implementation arrangements can be found in Chapter 6 of the strategy.

How will we know if the soil RD&E strategy is successful?

The success of the strategy will be monitored each year, including through the delivery of annual forums to report on achievements, and consider priorities and areas for improvement. The success of the strategy will be formally reviewed after three years in 2017.

​Further information

Further information about the strategy can be accessed by contacting the strategy secretariat or +61 2 6272 3933. 

If you would like to receive regular updates on the implementation of the national soil RD&E strategy, please send an email to soilsRDE@aff.gov.au with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Updated June 2014

The strategy has been updated to include new input from the University of Western Australia

  • The National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy - Securing Australia's soil for profitable industries and healthy landscapes PDF  [1.6 MB, 87 pages]
  • The National Soil Research, Development and Extension Strategy - Securing Australia's soil for profitable industries and healthy landscapes DOCX ​ [899 KB, 87 pages]
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: 22 April 2021

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