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.

The National Soil Strategy is Australia’s first national policy on soil. It 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.