P.PSH.1333 - CN30 Integrated Management Systems

Summary

The Integrated Management System (IMS) project evaluated new and emerging options for achieving CN30 in a farming systems context, identifying gaps in knowledge required to capture these in the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) and new carbon methods and appropriate pathways for the adoption of these technologies. This project completed a meta-analysis on feed additives and their adoption pathways, GHG accounting protocols, opportunities in soil carbon and sequestration, legumes and dietary supplements. Producer perceptions were also studies to understand potential adoption rates.

Objectives

• Identify new and emerging mitigation and sequestration options that can deliver towards the CN30 target, evaluating these in a farming systems and supply-chain context.
• Identifying accounting protocols appropriate to capture new mitigation actions at farm, supply chain and national inventory scale, developing the underpinning science and logic required for their adoption from farm through to policy.
• Review international developments in the definition and assessment of carbon neutrality, providing advice on alignment and refinements required, as relevant to the Australian red meat industry.
• Identify appropriate pathways for the adoption of new mitigation technologies by farmers, industry and policy. 
  Identify potential research gaps emerging, feeding these back into the CN30 research priorities.
  
  

Key findings

• Farm systems analysis is required to integrate component research to understand the whole of implications of various research developments. This is required to inform policy, avoid unanticipated outcomes from various best practise recommendations, and give farmers confidence to adopt new practices. It is also essential to advise MLA on pathways to achieve the goal of CN30.
• A conclusion from this work is that it is essential to continue for the whole of agriculture which will now occur under the new Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC.
  
  

Benefits to industry

The project has updated greenhouse gas accounting protocols, developed predictive equations for crediting methane reduction, produced clear information for farmers on sequestration offsets and practical information on soil carbon, legumes and dietary supplements as a mitigation strategy. These are all summarised in a series of industry reports and peer reviewed papers, which would provide the integrity required for industry recognition.

MLA action

MLA should continue to assess the work being completed in this space and fill any gaps in research.

Future research

Much of this work will continue within the Net Zero CRC. Some gaps in research may be able to be filled by MLA.