By his own admission, soil isn't the most thrilling subject but scientist Phil Mulvey warns ignoring it could lead to dire consequences.
Mr Mulvey, who in his day job is CEO of a company that promotes carbon farming, has written a book on soil's vital role in reducing heat and the impacts of climate change.
The book is called "Ground Breaking" and explores soil's connection with climate change. It was written with the help of his daughter Freya, an environmental lawyer.
"Freya said 'stop whingeing, the only way to change policy is to write a book'," he said of the motivation behind the project.
"There is a significant factor being missed in what's causing the heat.
"Greenhouse gases are about 50 per cent of climate change, but terrestrial factors were ignored right up until 2014."
In the book, the father and daughter encourage the adoption of regenerative farming which takes a conservation and rehabilitation approach to land management.
They cite the example of the 750km rabbit proof fence in Western Australia, where a study shows increased rainfall on one side of the fence where there is vegetation compared to cleared cropping land on the other.
"If you destroy the soil, you destroy the agricultural base, and you end up with collapsed civilisations," Mr Mulvey said.
"We're on the precipice of that happening."
In August, the Australian government wound up the position of National Soils Advocate, declaring it was taking a new approach as part of a more ambitious vision.
Ms Mulvey said there needed to be more discussion around soils by people from all walks of life.
"We need more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary conversations to be happening," she said.
While she didn't set out to write a book with her dad, the project has been rewarding for both parties.
"I think the bucket list was ticked for both of us in doing something that's hopefully going to create meaningful change," she said.
She says her aim is to get people, especially farmers, thinking holistically about managing the land, not just about planting trees or carbon sequestration.
"We're trying to make soils sexy. I'm not sure we've achieved that," she said.
