Soil Science Australia invites you to celebrate the important role of soils in our daily lives this World Soil Day.
World Soil Day is an annual event celebrating the importance of soil. This year’s theme is “Soils, where food begins”. Soil is a vital natural resource that helps to grow our food and sustain our planet. It’s essential for human health and well-being, as well as for the environment.
In Australia, healthy soils underpin every part of our lives.
“Soils are important because they form the basis to grow the food we eat and the fibre we use for the clothing we wear, act as a filter for the water we drink and support our important ecosystems,” Associate Professor Vanessa Wong, President Soil Science Australia.
Soils are also literally the ground we build our cities and townships on.
World Soil Day is an opportunity for us to collectively celebrate this vital resource, worth approximately $1 trillion year in the services it delivers to Australians and our environment and $63 billion per year directly to agricultural production.
You can learn more about the Value of Australia’s Soils here.
Soil helps to grow our food and sustain our way of life, however this precious resource also faces degradation.
Soil nutrient loss is a major soil degradation process threatening nutrition and is recognised as being among the most important problems for food security and sustainability all around the globe.
World Soil Day 2022 (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign “Soils: Where food begins” aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
In the lead up to World Soil Day, Soil Science Australia held the 10th Australian Soil Judging Competition in Ballarat, Victoria.
“Soil Judging Competitions are a key professional development and networking opportunity for students and aspiring soil professionals” said Dr Gary Clark, Certified Professional Soil Scientist. There are many ways we can help to preserve our soil, through sustainable soil management. “Good quality soil science is key to improving and managing soil” says Dr Gary Clark CPSS.
Our soils need to be managed in a sustainable manner to ensure it meets the needs of Australians for present and future generations”
