Soil, Climate and Policy.

In 2012 the Australian Prime Minister appointed former Governor-General Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery as Australia’s first National Advocate for Soil Health.  This appointment was made in response to the recommendations of a parliamentary working group, which recognised a need for greater public awareness of the importance of soil and the sustainable management of soil to Australia’s continued prosperity.  General Jeffery’s appointment has recently been extended, in recognition of the contribution that he has made, and in response to the need for continued focus of the Australian community on soil and landscape health.

Healthy, well managed soils are fundamental to human existence.  Not only for the production of healthy food and fibre, but also to underpin the provision of clean air, water and a regulated climate and in so doing supporting sustainable and prosperous communities.  Globally, our soil and water resources are at risk from degradation and loss of access, and this will increasingly have an impact on global security and human and environmental wellbeing.  There are many examples from history where severe soil degradation and loss of access to fresh water has led to destabilisation, aridification and desertification.  We are seeing modern examples of destabilization, from the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iran, to the new phase of dam construction on the Mekong River.

In a globalised society the resource management challenges we face in the Western world, such as the depletion of irreplaceable aquifers and the need to manage soil degradation and agricultural production in an increasingly variable climate, are likely to have broader implications.  Without proper and coordinated action to restore and maintain soil health, our ability to feed a 10 billion population by 2050 and to adapt to climate variability will be seriously compromised.

In Australia we have a strong history of on-farm innovation, and world-class scientific capability with a tradition of international collaboration.  This puts Australia and other nations with similar expertise in a strong position to share knowledge about improving soil security with other countries.  Acting on this knowledge can change the way soils are managed globally and help boost productivity, increase resilience to future challenges and contribute to stable, prosperous communities.

Achieving soil and water security requires urgent national and global cooperation.  In particular, soil research must be more appropriately focussed and coordinated and key knowledge gaps identified.  A primary requirement is defining what is meant by healthy soil and how it can be quickly and accurately measured.

To save the planet we must save the soil and every citizen must be involved.