This World Soil Day provides an important opportunity to acknowledge the critical role soil plays in Australia's agricultural industry.
Underpinning Australia's agricultural production, soil contributes approximately $90 billion to the nation's economy per annum. Soil is also home to more than 25 per cent of our planet's biodiversity.
Healthy soil is of critical importance for food security nationally and internationally. Soil is the basis of healthy food, with 95% of global food production produced directly or indirectly from soils.
Celebrated annually on 5 December, World Soil Day is a United Nations initiative designed to raise awareness of soil as a critical natural resource. This year's theme is 'Healthy soil for healthy cities'.
The Australian Government is supporting soil health and resilience through the National Soil Strategy and the National Soil Action Plan.
Australia's first national policy on soil, the strategy sets out how Australia will prioritise soil health, empower innovation, and strengthen knowledge over the next 20 years.
The Australian Government is also investing more than $90 million in a range of soil programs, including:
- the National Soil Monitoring Program ($21.3 million)
- the Australian National Soil Information System and the National Soil Information Framework ($21 million)
- Regional Soil Coordinators and a National Soil Community of Practice ($8.4 million)
- Bilateral Agreements with states and territories ($20 million)
- Soil Science Challenge Grant Program ($20 million)
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Group Deputy Secretary Matt Lowe said soil was a crucial part of Australia's agricultural system and way of life.
"Soil is an integral part of the Australian landscape," he said.
"It supports us all, no matter where we live, and provides essential ecosystem and production services that contributes to Australia's economic, environmental and social wellbeing.
"Soil also has cultural significance, and its health impacts biodiversity, water and air quality, human health and plays a vital role in building resilience to natural disasters and adapting to and mitigating climate change."
