Application and extension of FarmGAS decision support tool – trainer to trainer program

Summary

​The free online FarmGAS Scenario Tool was developed with funding from the Reducing Emissions from Livestock Program (REFLP) to enable users to estimate greenhouse gas emissions at an enterprise and whole farm level. Additional functionality built into the Scenario Tool to enable assessment of mitigation and abatement options increased its complexity for users. 
FarmGAS is a Tool that enables users to assess the implications of on farm greenhouse gas abatement strategies, assess the viability and potential outcome from Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) projects and for the research community to model the affect of findings on whole farm and enterprise greenhouse gas emissions.
To increase awareness and capacity of advisor and extension specialists to use the FarmGAS Scenario Tool and encourage adoption amongst clients, train the trainer workshops were held in each Australian state, except Northern Territory during March to May 2012. Following training users would be sufficiently skilled to use the Scenario Tool with farmers, in research and policy applications.
Approximately 64 advisor and extension specialists were trained in use of FarmGAS with an additional three workshops planned.