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 recognition of the need for greater public awareness of the importance of soil and the sustainable management of soil to Australia's continued prosperity. 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 thereby supporting sustainable and prosperous communities. Globally, soil and water resources are at risk from degradation and loss of access, and this will increasingly impact global security and human and environmental well-being. History has many examples where severe soil degradation and loss of access to freshwater has led to destabilisation, aridification and desertification. We are also seeing modern examples of this. Resource management challenges faced in the Western world are likely to have broader implications. Without proper and coordinated action to restore and maintain soil health, our ability to feed a ten billion population by 2050 and to maintain food production in the face of climate variability will be seriously compromised. Achieving soil and water security requires urgent national and global cooperation. Australia has 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. To save the planet, we must save the soil and every citizen must be involved.
