Soil carbon to reach carbon neutral
| Project start date: | 02 April 2023 |
| Project end date: | 01 April 2029 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Grass-fed Beef |
| Relevant regions: | National, Temperate |
| Site location: | Tarramba Qld, Dungog NSW and Carrick TAS |
Summary
AgriProve is partnering with Meat & Livestock Australia to deliver this 6 year Integrated R&D Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project.
The project supports the Australian red meat industry in transitioning to carbon neutral by 2030 through growing understanding of how soil carbon impacts carbon intensity of red meat enterprises. Three AgriProve partnering producers at Tarramba, Queensland, Dungog, NSW, and Carrick, Tasmania are hosting demonstration sites to trial management practices that sequester carbon in soils.
The demonstration sites will implement multi-species pastures and test two different management techniques against a control plot, including different grazing management approaches, sowing techniques, soil ameliorants and aeration to determine best practice management of multi-species for increasing soil carbon.
The project will use AgriProve’s scalable and innovative approach to soil carbon sampling which includes annual sampling of one metre soil cores alongside remote sensing NDRE and NDVI satellite imagery, and NIR Spectroscopy. Regular in-field pasture monitoring will record changes to production resulting from improved soil health from new practices. The project also includes whole farm carbon accounting to highlight how soil carbon sequestration under the Australian Government ACCU Scheme can support livestock enterprises in reaching and moving beyond net zero carbon intensity.
The project will engage a minimum of 6 Core and 204 Observer producers with over 1589 cattle, 1400 sheep and 95,000ha under management.
Objectives
By March 2029, at Tarramba, QLD, Dungog, NSW, and Carrick, TAS:
1. 100% of core producers and 25% observer producers complete whole farm carbon accounting and understand how their soil carbon project effects their carbon footprint/intensity, carbon neutrality, and profitability.
2. Annual soil carbon measurement demonstrates multi-species pastures increase soil carbon stocks by at least 3 CO2 e/ha/year and increase pasture productivity by 10% at three sites.
3. Extension activities result in 100% core producers and at least 25% observer producers improving knowledge and skills in best practice management of multi-species pastures and intending to adopt, implement, or improve use of multi-species pastures.
4. Three in-depth case studies analysing cost-benefit show a positive return on investment at three sites.
Progress
AgriProve Carbon Builders project ‘Soil Carbon to Reach Carbon Neutral’ has established three demonstration sites, one at Tarramba, QLD, Dungog, NSW and Carrick, TAS. The project aims to demonstrate how soil carbon can support red meat enterprises to reach carbon neutrality, and the effectiveness of multi-species pastures and holistic grazing management for soil carbon sequestration.
All sites are now established with multi-species across 3 plots, 2 treatments and a control, and all sites have good species diversity. Two host farms have had whole farm carbon accounting completed, and the carbon credits generated have surpassed emissions of the operations, giving hosts the option of becoming carbon neutral to gain a price premium (e.g. retiring credits and certification) or to generate income through sale of carbon credits. Early findings demonstrate how ACCU Scheme soil carbon projects can impact the carbon intensity of an enterprise. The key message is to start recording emissions data and try the carbon footprint tools available, in order to access current and future carbon opportunities.
