The vitality of all the living things above ground, the grasses, flowers, crops, pastures, trees, shrubs, animals, birds, insects and last but not least, the people, reflect the dynamics of the soil below.

Soil microbes and tiny soil animals, almost too small to see, form the base of the pyramid of life. Vibrant soils give rise to a diverse, flourishing ecosystem. Lifeless soils give rise to... nothing much at all. 

Management practices are critical to building healthy soil and directly linked to environmental and production outcomes. Essential components are maintaining diverse species ground cover and creating conditions that lead to vigorous plant growth, to enhanced soil microbial and fungal activity and increased soil biodiversity which builds soil structure and leads to improved water retention and other ecosystem services.

Given the vast extent of non-arable land (large parts of it currently degraded), improved management practices at such scale provide key opportunities to managing our climate, health and food security challenges. Cropping systems are, significantly, moving to re-introduce livestock for soil health, water cycling and productivity outcomes.