The Future of Farming: Embrace the Power of Soil Carbon Farming.
Nurturing the Land, Securing the Future: We can help start your Soil Carbon Farming project.
Soil Carbon Farming Australia
What's it all about?
Soil carbon farming is an innovative approach within agriculture, aimed at enhancing carbon content in the soil. This approach incorporates various techniques such as no-till farming, strategic grazing management, the use of cover crops, and implementing crop rotation. The focus is not just on farming, but on nurturing the soil for long-term benefits.
Environmental Benefits
One of the key impacts of soil carbon farming is its ability to capture and store carbon in the soil, contributing significantly to reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This method plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change. Moreover, it enhances water quality and boosts the land's resilience against drought, making it a win-win for the environment.
Nick Kentish | Principal AdvisorAdvantages for Farmers
Soil carbon farming is not just environmentally friendly; it's also economically beneficial for farmers. This method can lead to higher crop yields as enriched soils with organic matter better retain water and nutrients, fostering robust plant growth. Additionally, it can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides, cutting down on farming costs. With healthier soils, there's also a decrease in erosion, saving expenses on soil conservation.
A unique aspect for Australian farmers is the opportunity to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), creating an additional revenue stream and diversifying income sources, thereby reducing business risks.
Why Consider Soil Carbon Farming?
Soil carbon farming stands out as a holistic approach that benefits the ecosystem and enhances farm productivity. If you're contemplating the adoption of improved agriculture practices, soil carbon farming offers a pathway to not just ecological sustainability but also economic viability – reducing atmospheric CO2, boosting crop yields, trimming down input costs, and opening up new income avenues.
David McLean |Chief of DeliveryRCS Principle based management equals carbon sequestration.
I am pleased to announce, RCS Grazing for Profit® and ExecutiveLink® graduates, Carly and Grant Burnham, North Burnett graziers, have received a record-breaking 94,666 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) from the Clean Energy Regulator for their soil carbon farming project at Bonnie Doone QLD. This marks the largest allocation for an individual project in Australia. They partnered RCS’ sister company CarbonLink on this 5,275-hectare initiative in 2016.
Terry McCosker | Founder RCS & CarbonLink
Risk Mitigation and Climate Moderation:
Natural landscapes play a crucial role in mitigating environmental risks and moderating climate extremes. They absorb and retain rainfall, reducing flood peaks and slowing runoff. Vegetation acts as an insulator and aids in transpiration, helping to moderate climate extremes. These functions are essential for maintaining stable and conducive conditions for agricultural and other forms of production.
Enhanced Ecosystem Services:
Natural capital is fundamental in maintaining ecosystem services that are vital for the production of healthy food and fibre. This includes clean air generated through photosynthesis, pure water filtered by robust land, fertile soils formed by biological processes, and pollination conducted by various insects. By valuing and protecting these services, producers can ensure sustainable and high-quality outputs.
Economic and Social Benefits:
There's a growing recognition of the economic value derived from healthy natural capital. Food processors and consumers increasingly seek produce from farms that employ good environmental practices. This trend is creating new market opportunities, where governments and the private sector are developing systems to connect private investors and land stewards. These initiatives aim to facilitate positive outcomes in biodiversity and natural capital, leading to prosperity not just for individual producers but also for communities and businesses at large.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of common soil carbon farming questions and their answers to provide you with quick and informative solutions.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to reach out to our dedicated support team for further assistance. Australia-Wide Free Call 1800 356 004.
The first step to profiting from a Soil Carbon project is registering your project with the CER. Then you will need to ensure you follow one of the methodologies and management practices approved by the CER and apply it to increase soil carbon from your baseline measurements.
Carbon levels will be measured in 3-5 years to check for increased carbon stored in your soil. If an audit confirms you have utilised the correct procedures, you will be eligible for payment for the carbon you have sequestered minus deductions.
One tonne of Soil Organic Carbon is equivalent to 3.67 tonnes of CO2. The Federal Government deducts a proportion of the ACCUs, depending on the permanence period and any relevant discounts. Once you are issued your ACCUs you are free to hold them, retire them (use them to offset your own emissions) or sell them. They are held in an account within the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU), which ensures accurate accounting of the issue, trading and other transactions of ACCUs.
If you are interested in understanding more about Soil Carbon Projects, we recommend talking with the team at our sister company, CarbonLink™.
Carbon project aggregators coordinate multiple small carbon projects as part of a larger project to reduce overall costs. Although these aggregations can be complex to set up legally and commercially, as so many parties are involved, they provide a pathway for smaller-scale landholders to farm carbon.
Aggregation can be a good option for areas with high sequestration potential and producers dedicated to the appropriate farming methods. As the value of an ACCU increases and advances in technology reduce costs associated with project establishment, the size of a viable Carbon Estimation Area is likely to reduce, reducing the need for aggregation.
You can check if a Soil Carbon Projects is viable on your land by speaking with the team at our sister company, CarbonLink™.
One carbon credit anywhere in the world equals 1 tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (called CO2-e). One tonne of methane is roughly 25t CO2e, and one tonne of nitrous oxide is roughly 310 t CO2-e. This reflects that the other gases have greater heating capacity than carbon dioxide.
An ACCU is a unit issued by the CER into an account within the ANREU in exchange for carbon sequestered in a registered, audited project following strict methodology.
There are different carbon trading schemes worldwide, and although 1 unit will equal 1 tonne of CO2-e, they may have different monetary values depending on the integrity of the measurement and value placed on them by the market.
If you’re going to embark on the journey of carbon farming, it’s essential to get familiar with the terminology and acronyms:
- ACCU: Australian Carbon Credit Unit
- CER: Clean Energy Regulator
- ANREU: Australian National Register of Emissions Units
- CEA: Carbon Estimation Area
- CO2-e : Carbon dioxide equivalent
If you’re interested in carbon farming, why not brush up on regenerative farming methods in Australia with a course by RCS.
Learn More
To learn more about how to get started as a soil carbon farmer complete the form and one of our team will get in touch. Alternatively, you can free call us on 1800 356 004 and speak to a soil carbon specialist.
