Healthy Soils Australia (HSA) is a public not for profit company with a national outlook, and an inclusive focus to build a network of awareness about healthy soil. HSA supports a wide range of proven approaches to build healthy, carbon-rich soil. Besides the production benefits (greatly reduced input costs to soil with no loss in productivity) and landscape benefits (better water holding capacity of healthy soil), the carbon sequestration from the air to the soil which can be achieved by biological management may soon be credited and paid for to balance the National Greenhouse Accounts.
Food produced on healthy soil is nutrient-balanced, thus contributing to the health of the population.
The HSA board and office-holding members are dedicated to improving the health of Australia's soils:
| Tom Nicholas | Chair |
| Bronwyn Grantham | Deputy Chair |
| Mike Parish | Treasurer |
| Cath Marriott | Director |
| Pennie Scott | Director |
| Michael Kiely | Director |
| Walter Jehne | Director |
| Vicki Poulter | Director |
| George Taylor | Director |
| John Schooneveldt | Company Secretary |
| Judith Carroll |
Secretary |
ROL's design for a low carbon future for Australia has been produced with input from HSA, thanks to director Walter Jehne. Download this comprehensive and sensible plan ROL_AUSTRALIA_LOW_CARBON_FUTURE_29 APR 11.pdf endorsed by HSA.
HSA has been in discussion with the Deparment of Climate Change and Environment re the Carbon Farming initiative, submitting a consultation paper focussing on soil carbon sequestration, Download CFI submission[.doc] and submitting ongoing information re the verification and methodology of carbon crediting for soil sequestration.
HSA has recently produced papers for the Outcomes Australia Water Management Forum and Carbon Management Forum in Canberra; Download Carbon Mgmt Forum[.pdf]
HSA was a co-convenor of a major conference at Kioloa, NSW, structured to create opportunities for people to talk across sectors, which brought together farmers, scientists, and commercial interests interested in soil health; and was a sponsor of the Carbon Coalition conference in Dubbo in 2010.
HSA is focussing on building an independent network of like-minded individuals and organisations to further advance the cause of healthy soils in Australia.
HSA speakers are available for events held by science, government, consumer and farmer groups. HSA offers new insight - an holistic, practical and productive way of looking at landscape balance, carbon, and a positive way forward for the planet. Contact Chair Tom Nicholas on 02 62274460 or 0428 835463. Download B_editFARMERS_ARE_THE_LEADERS_The_answer_is_in_the_soil T edit.docx by Tom Nicholas.