As part of its Dow Sustainability Program, the United States Studies Centre in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the University of Sydney hosted leading soil and plant scientists from the USA, Canada, Europe, UK and Australasia for a three-day Soil Carbon Summit, culminating in a Stakeholder Workshop.

The Workshop provided an opportunity for government, research and development organisations, policy makers, farmers and industry to be informed about the state of knowledge regarding the fate of carbon in soil, and the long-term consequences for soil function. Delegates had an opportunity to discuss the important steps that need to be taken to achieve the goal of sequestering more carbon, and building soil functionality so that agricultural practices may:

• Provide a means of cancelling out carbon emissions that threaten the long-term livelihood of the world's inhabitants
• Increase soil productivity to enable food supplies to meet ever-growing global demand
• Translate scientific knowledge about soils into improved water retention and less erosion, particularly in light of extreme weather events such as Australia's recent large-scale floods

An important new concept to emerge from the Soil Carbon Summit is soil security. This refers to the maintenance and improvement of the world’s soil resources so that they can continue to provide food, fibre, and fresh water; make major contributions to energy and climate sustainability and help maintain biodiversity and the overall protection of ecosystem goods; and services. A principal mechanism for achieving soil security is the management and sequestration of soil carbon through active land management systems and technologies and as such soil carbon is a key indicator for soil security.

Program & Session Videos

Introduction

Hon. Robert Hill Adjunct Professor in Sustainability, US Studies Centre

Andrea Koch Project Manager, Soil Carbon Initiative, US Studies Centre

The Science of Soil Carbon

Wake Up Call Professor Iain Young, University of New England

Plant Inputs Professor Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University

Plant-Soil-Microbe Interactions Professor Tony O'Donnell, University of Western Australia

Pools or Particles Dr Julie Jastrow, Argonne National Laboratory

Management Dr Jeffrey Baldock, CSIRO

Modelling Professor Bill Parton, Colorado State University

From Science to Policy

The New Zealand Experience Dr David Whitehead, NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre

A Roadmap for the Future Professor John Crawford, University of Sydney

Interactive Panel Discussion

Professor Lynette Abbott University of Western Australia, Professor Mark Adams University of Sydney, Dr Denis Angers Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada, Dr Jeff Baldock CSIRO, Professor Dan Binkley Colorado State University, Professor Michael Bird James Cook University, Professor Phil Brookes Rothamsted Research, Professor Claire Chenu AgroParisTech, Professor John Crawford University of Sydney, Dr Julie Jastrow Argonne National Laboratory, Professor Johannes Lehmann Cornell University, Professor Alex McBratney University of Sydney, Professor Tony O'Donnell University of Western Australia, Professor Bill Parton Colorado State University, Dr David Whitehead New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Professor Iain Young University of New England, Dr Michael Zimmerman James Cook University

Wrap Up

Professor Mark Adams, University of Sydney

Summary and Close

Hon. Robert Hill Adjunct, US Studies Centre

Participants of the Science Summit

USA & CANADA Dr Julie Jastrow, Argonne National Laboratory Professor William Parton, Colorado State University Professor Dan Binkley, Colorado State University Professor Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University Professor Rattan Lal, Ohio State University Dr Denis Angers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

EUROPE & UK Professor Claire Chenu, ParisAgroTech Professor Phil Brookes, Rothamsted Research

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Dr David Whitehead, New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre Dr Jeff Baldock, CSIRO Professor Michael Bird, James Cook University Dr Michael Zimmerman, James Cook University Professor Iain Young, University of New England Professor Mark Adams, University of Sydney Professor John Crawford, University of Sydney Professor Alex McBratney, University of Sydney Professor Lynnette Abbott, University of Western Australia Professor Tony O'Donnell, University of Western Australia

Suported by:

Dow Chemical Company

Alcoa Fundataion