Carbon Farming 101
Landsmanship
Beyond Organics
Re-Generative Farming
Carbon Farming Conference
Training Dates
Home : Courses : Carbon Farming 101

Carbon Farming 101


An Introduction to Carbon Farming & Trading

The Carbon Farming Initiative – what’s in it for you?

Do you… Run stock? Use fertilizer? Burn stubble? Burn grasses? Irrigate crops? The Carbon Farming Initiative is for you. 

Click here for a list of upcoming seminars.


Contents of the Course:


08:30 - Session 1: Introduction
  • Introduce Carbon Farmers of Australia
  • Introduction to the Class Members – Participants introduce themselves and outline what they would like to learn from the day.
Session 2: Soil Carbon – The Fundamentals

The Carbon Cycle and Climate Change
  • What is Carbon & what role does it play normally
  • Why it is labelled a “Greenhouse Gas”
  • Different views of Climate Change
  • The Science of Climate Change:
    • Methane, nitrous oxide, water vapour and CO2
    • Implications for Agriculture at Farm Scale
    •
Soil Carbon Dynamics
  • How soil carbon is made
  • Photosynthesis Process – plants, trees, algae, cyanobacteria
  • Fractions – Soil Organic Carbon vs. Soil Organic Matter
  • Soil Biology – Role of Microbial Community
  • Bio-Mimicry – Land Management that ‘mimics’ natural processes
 10:30 - 11:00: Morning Tea

Session 3: Soil Carbon – The Benefits

Benefits of Soil Carbon
  • Triple Bottom Line: Economic, Environment, Social
  • Economic Benefits: Stop topsoil losses, reduce inputs, better usage water, potential trade etc.
  • Environmental Benefits: Increased biodiversity, reduced silting of waterways, reduced usage biocides, reduced salinity etc.
  • Social Benefits: Rural sector seen to be playing crucial role in mitigating effects of Climate Change; Food Security from higher production reduce refugee numbers anticipated; Trading in soil carbon boosts economy of rural communities; etc.
  • Fourth Bottom-line: Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change – “Secure Bridge To The Future” – Soil Carbon’s unique role
  • The “Potential” of Australian Soils
Session 4: Soil Carbon & Land Management

Growing Soil Carbon and TOOLS and TECHNIQUES
  • The 3 Elements (Climate, Soil Type, Land Management)
  • Carbon Farming – Land Management for Soil Sequestration of Carbon
  • Guiding Principles: Ground Cover, Perenniality, Nutrient Management, etc.
  • Getting Started: Soil Tests
  • ‘Down on the farm’ tools and techniques.
  • SCOT: Soil Carbon Optimising Tool
 1:00 - 1:45pm: Lunch

Session 5: Trading Carbon Offsets

What is a Carbon Offset? Why a Carbon Market?
  • Offset What? Cap & Trade System
  • Creating Offsets
  • Quality issues
  • Value-add Biodiversity issues
  • Efficient allocation of resources
  • Most cost efficient mechanism
  • Acid Rain/Sulfur Dioxide Case
Who are the Buyers? Who are the Growers?
  • Structure of the Market
  • Compliance Vs Voluntary Markets
  • Big Emitters Purchasing Behaviour
  • Structure of Supply
  • Large & Small Holdings
  • Role of Aggregator with Large and Small Holdings
Nature of Offsets Available
  • Forestry
  • Conservation Restoration
  • Landfill Methane Reduction
  • Camel Eradication (Methane Reduction)
  • Pending:
    • Soil Carbon
    • Fertiliser Management
    • Methane Management
Session 6: Dealing with Aggregators

Aggregator? Broker?
  • Aggregator - Parcelling Agent
  • Pool Manager
  • Registry Maintenance
  • Overseer of measurements
  • Types of Broker
What is the Carbon Farming Initiative?
  • Rationale
  • Rules of the Australian Market
  • Integrity Standards
  • Domestic Offset Integrity Committee
  • Positive & Negative Lists
  • Government Registry
  • Domestic & International/Compliance & Voluntary Markets
Who is likely to Aggregate?
  • Farmer Organisations,
  • Private Organisations, eg. NCOC, Flatlander Environmental Services, CROP
  • Suppliers, eg. N/C-Quest (Bio-Agtive)
  • NRM agencies, eg., Degree Celsius Project, LandCare
  • Whose interests does the Aggregator promote?
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Grower Representation
Practical Aggregation
  • From Principles to Process
  • Responsibilities of Parties
  • Protocols – Managing Details
  • Documentation
  • Operations Manual
  • Data Collection
  • Measurement & Verification
  • Audit – Credible Offsets
  • Register – Tracking Units
  • Agreements and Fees
3:30pm - 4:00pm: Afternoon Tea

Session 7: One Methodology Explained

The CFA Assisted Land Management Change System. From Soil Carbon to Registered Removal Unit
  • Voluntary Market Operation
  • Australian National Carbon Offset Standard
  • Responsibilities of the Land Holder-
  • Soil Testing Regime.
  • Responsibilities of the Program Manager
  • Risk Management System
  • Redefining Additionality, Permanence
  • Potential returns
Session 8: Discussion, where to from here?

Survey

5:15pm: Seminar close

Click here for a list of upcoming seminars.