Can farmers become the hero's of climate change?
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Rural Property News
- Mar 17, 2019
- 680 views
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By Oli Madgett - Co-Founder Platfarm.
Hopefully ground zero in agricultures fight against climate change ends up being the front left paddock of 1635 Main Road South, Hallora, Victoria. It's where farmers Niels and Marja Olsen received the first ever carbon credits from the Australian Emissions Reduction Fund, following on from the increased carbon that they've sequestered in their soils.
Watch the video here.
Watch the video here.
Soil has tremendous potential to sequester carbon, which is not only positive from an environmental perspective, but increasing soil organic carbon improves productivity and has the triple benefit of now being able to earn farmers an additional revenue source through working with a partner such as AgriProve as the Olsen's have done. The Australian Government has just committed a further $2bn of support for purchasing carbon credits through the Climate Solutions Fund, so there's a really exciting future ahead in this area.
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The Olsens had complied with the Clean Energy Regulators methodology for initially baselining their soil organic carbon levels, and then taking follow-up samples, with coring being carried out by Bootstrap Environmental.
Soil carbon levels were increased by using the Soilkee pasture renovator, which was invented by farmer Niels himself. The implement aerated the soil whilst at the same time planting a mixed cover crop. Within just a couple of years the soils have sprung back into life, and the Olsens said that stocking rates can already be 20-30% higher with the increased feed on offer, with a longer term objective being able to double production on their land.
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As well as the production benefits on the initial 100Ha trial site, the Olsens now have 406 carbon credits to their names, and there's hopefully years of further upside to come as their soils carbon levels continue to shown to increase.
It was great to meet pioneers in this space such as the Olsens and Matthew Warnken of AgriProve, and to be present at what will hopefully become a historic first, as farmers start to become some of the hero's of the climate change story...
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