The activities of HSA centre on identification and extraction of suitable materials from what would otherwise be wastes to produce soil conditioners for use in remediating land. Industry and domestic sources for this material are central to the initiative, hence it involves the whole community.

The requirement is to develop a functional soil rather than continue to treat it as a hydroponic medium. The key issues relate to improving the soil organic matter and the practical means of implementing commercial services. That is, the characteristics of organic matter, soils and land use determine the need to develop solutions specific to individual circumstances.

The soil health package involves a suite of capabilities to match soil conditioners to the land, evaluate performance and allow cost-effective implementation on degraded land. This includes detailed soil mapping and land use capability analysis, the development of site specific soil conditioners, and the development of rapid biological and physical measures of soil health.

The purpose of the soil conditioners is to act as catalysts in developing functional soils. Many soils have sufficient minerals to support plant growth but their form and an unfavourable physical environment limit their uptake by plants. Appropriate microbial development is needed to improve the soil environment and convert elements into a form readily available to plants.

Organic carbon is essential in improving soils but its effect depends on the form of carbon and how it is presented as well as the amount. Carbon inappropriately applied can be toxic. Soil conditioners represent a mix of mineral materials with carbon pre-processed into an appropriate form. The mix stimulates the development of soil micro-organisms which increase the extraction of minerals from the soil as well as directly providing nutrients in a form available to plants.

The benefits of utilising soil minerals in this way is the range of minerals that become available to plants, additional to reduced fertiliser costs and improved soil structure. Consequently, all the plant nutrient requirements are addressed and not just those considered most limiting. This benefits human as well as plant health. Healthy soils translate into a healthy human population.