Soil Health and Biology Certificate Program

Soil Health and Biology Certificate Program - 14-17 July 2025

The Soil Biology and Health Certificate Program is offered in partnership with Soil Science Australia and is designed for growers, consultants, and agronomists who are interested in learning about the benefits of soil biology as a driver of healthy and sustainable crops, and the future directions for research, technologies, and practice.

Harnessing the Life in Soils

The course program will expand your understanding of how the latest, emerging research is driving renewed interest in soil health and soil biology as a function of overall farm productivity.

Key Topics Covered:

• History of soil biology and agriculture
• Diversity and functions of soil microbes that drive productivity
• Nutrient cycling of nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients
• Plant and microbial interactions
• Soil fauna that influences soil biology and activity
• Integrating soil health methods into practice

Additional Features:

• Networking opportunities with experts and delegates.
• Conference dinner and access to soil health facilities at Western Sydney University's Hawkesbury Campus.
• Morning teas, lunches, and afternoon tea*.

*No afternoon tea on Day 2 due to facilities tour.

Incorporating soil health and biology and management practices to sustainably increase productivity and profitability

LIMITED POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Register by 30 June

Download the brochure

The registration fee includes catering, a site tour of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment research facilities, optional transfers and a networking dinner at the Crowne Plaza.

Course structure

The 4-day Certificate Program is delivered in two parts:

Part 1* – Day 1 & 2: Introduction to Soil Health and Biology

• The fundamentals of soil science: core concepts in soil biology and health.
• Foundational knowledge for integrating soil health into management practices.
• Open to all; no prior knowledge required.

Part 2 – Day 3 & 4: Harnessing the Life in Soils

• Advanced insights into soil biology and its applications.
• Practical tools for integrating soil biology and health with sustainable agronomic management practices.
• Completion of Day 1 & 2 is a prerequisite.

Program Certification and Evaluation.

• Attendees are eligible to apply for CPSS accreditation on completion of the 4-day Certificate Program.
• The certificate is issued by Western Sydney University on behalf of Soil Science Australia.
• Counts toward ongoing professional development requirements for Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) and Registered Soil Practitioner (RSP) .

Attendees who are unable to attend the full 4 day program, or those who don't require certification can opt to attend Part 1 of the program only by registering for the 2 day Soil Biology Masterclass.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, participants should be able to:

• demonstrate a broad understanding of the concepts of soil health
• understand the principals of the role soil biology plays in productivity
• identify management practices that can promote soil biology
• demonstrate the practical knowledge to be able to harness soil biology and integrate into practice

Who Should Attend This Course?

This is an ideal program for delegates seeking to understand the benefits of soil biology as a driver of healthy crops and healthy foods in sustainable production environments:

• Proactive and innovative growers across horticultural and agricultural sectors
• Consultants, advisors, and agronomists seeking to unlock new value from cropping operations

Availability: Annual.

Location: Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus (Building L6), Bourke St , Richmond NSW 2753. Parking on campus will incur a daily parking fee of approximately $7.

Accommodation: We recommend staying at the Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, located in Windsor. The Crowne Plaza is the location for the networking dinner on 14 July.  It will also be the collection and drop-off location for transfers between the hotel and Hawkesbury Campus.

There are several alternative accommodation options in Richmond, with the University shuttle bus in operation between Richmond town centre and Hawkesbury Campus 7am-10:40pm weekdays.

Registration and inclusions: The registration fee includes catering, a tour of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment world-class research facilities, optional transfers, and a networking dinner at the Crowne Plaza.

Presenters

Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh (WSU)	Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh is an internationally recognised expert in the field of microbial ecology. His research interests encompass functional microbial ecology, climate change and environmental biotechnology with particular focus on the role of microbes in ecosystem function and environmental sustainability.
Special Guest Presenter Stuart McAlpine	Stuart McAlpine is a fourth-generation farmer who has extensive experience in research, extension, and strategic development in Australia.  Stuart owns and manages a 5,000-hectare farm at Buntine, Western Australia, with his wife Leanne.  He is a co-founder of the Liebe Group, one of Australia’s premium grower groups, and was its inaugural President in 2007. Stuart instigated the Regional Repopulation Plan with the Shire of Dalwallinu in 2010 and Chaired the Regional Repopulation Advisory Committee (RRAC); he also sat on the Perth Working Group Committee associated with the RRAC as deputy Chairperson. This program supported an increase in population in Dalwallinu by around 15%. From this work, Stuart cofounded the Regional Regeneration Alliance, a cross regional impact, not-for-profit organisation aimed at developing and supporting sustainable land, economic, and community regeneration projects utilising collective impact. Stuart has expert knowledge in soil and regenerative agriculture practice and his efforts in natural resource management saw him honoured as a Soil Champion in the International Year of Soil 2015 and then added to the Regional Natural Resource Management Leadership Honour Roll in 2016 by the Northern Agricultural Catchment Council in Western Australia. He regularly presents at Western Sydney University’s Soil Biology Masterclass. Stuart is Chair of RegenWA, a network of committed West Australian farmers and industry stakeholders who are identifying, implementing, and sharing innovative land management practices that other farmers can adopt. Stuart has also been part of the team that has seen the first four return regenerative agriculture company in Australia Wide Open Agriculture Ltd. Listed on the ASX. Stuart also provides lupins to Wide Open Agriculture for their exciting product Buntine Protein and beef to Dirty Clean Food as one of its many regenerative suppliers.
Dr Eleonora Egidi	Dr Eleonora Egidi is aiming to identify and understand how plants and their associated microbiota, recognise, and coordinate development and enable this ecosystem to survive under less-than-ideal conditions.   Dr Egidi joined the HIE in 2018 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and was awarded an ARC DECRA fellowship in 2020.
Dr Juntao Wang	Dr Juntao Wang is an expert on soil informatics and big data mining, with a research focus that bridges ecological heory and practical applications in agriculture and environmental sustainability.  His research centres on identifying indicators of soil health, farm productivity, and ecosystem responses to agronomic practices and stressors.  His work includes the application of computational and genomic based methods to monitor soil microbial and other communities' dynamics and their effects on agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, addressing global issues related to soil biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Assoc Prof Uffe Nielsen	Assoc Prof Uffe Nielsen is broadly interested in community and ecosystem ecology, and the link between the two, i.e. how do changes in one influence the other.   In a time where large-scale changes in land use and climate are impacting ecosystems across the globe it is essential for human well-being to acquire knowledge of the potential implications of these changes. For instance, species gains and losses, and changes in community composition, belowground due to climate changes can impact nutrient cycling, which may lead to changes in aboveground communities and potentially limit productivity of agricultural lands.
Assoc Prof Catriona Macdonald	Associate Professor Catriona Macdonald investigates the impacts of environmental change on nutrient cycling and resource allocation within terrestrial environments. Her research interests are geared towards understanding how environmental change impacts nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning and how this affects productivity and sustainability of soils.