SOIL SCIENCE, SOIL PROTECTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OPENING ADDRESS - NATIONAL SOILS CONFERENCE

Australia will continue to rely on its soils to maintain national well being. At the same time society will be more demanding that the soil resource be managed sustainably. Soil scientists are therefore challenged to be more effective in helping formulate policy, contributing to public understanding and in applying their knowledge to meet national need. Close consultation with land managers to define important problems is necessary as is increasing confidence that the knowledge we have is appropriate to the task. It is also important to recognise that much of our science was generated as a reductionist response to difficult problems and it is now necessary to integrate our knowledge to deal with those problems. Collaboration across organisations to ensure most effective use of that knowledge is necessary. Important opportunities to demonstrate application of soil science are identified. A plea is made to teach the subject, not just as an intellectual exercise but as a basis for problem solving across the whole range of uses to which soils are put. Case studies for guidance and to identify knowledge gaps are sought. There is also need to recognise that different client industries demand different communication models to ensure that soil science knowledge is applied appropriately.