National Soils Advocate Forum 2022

L-R: Carolyn Hall (TMI), Philip Mulvey (Carbon Count) and Gary Nairn AO (TMI).

The Mulloon Institute’s Chairman Gary Nairn AO and CEO Managing Director Carolyn Hall attended the National Soils Advocate Forum 2022: Economic considerations and market-based drivers of soil health change.

The National Soils Advocate the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC and her capable team including Sue Bestow Senior Policy Adviser to the National Soils Advocate hosted the event at Old Parliament House for a day all about improving soil health.

A selection of interesting presentations focused on the biodiversity below ground and how important soil health is to the agricultural sector and our economy. The need for soil extension skills was recognised to engage the broader community in the importance of soil health along with the links between soil health and land management practices. Decision support for farmers to achieve practice change was a common theme throughout the day. The potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and hold it in healthy soils over time was also explored as a real strategy to assist Australia and the rest of the world to reach net-zero emission targets.

The market based instruments that can drive change in how soils are managed were explored with a dynamic presentation on the generation of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) from Phil Mulvey of Carbon Count and co-author of Ground Breaking: Soil Security and Climate Change.

How land management for soil health can be communicated to consumers was also considered and highlighted the range of accreditation schemes in development to recognise sustainable farm management practices and outcomes.

Overall, this was a very informative day with a variety of researchers including a number form the Soil CRC presenting their research.