Future-proofing: all eyes on carbon farming in May
The disastrous flooding in the past weeks, off the back of extended drought and then the catastrophic bushfire season of 2019/2020, exposes the precarious nature of modern farming. An upcoming conference will explore the co-benefits of carbon farming for farmers, landholders, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“Farmers want to improve land. They want to improve resilience to extended droughts, extreme weather, and other effects of climate change. But most of all they want to earn more income from their land.”
“You can learn how to do that and much more, at the National Carbon Farming Conference & Expo coming up in May,” says Louisa Kiely, Director of Carbon Farmers of Australia.
The price of carbon continues to increase substantially and Ms Kiely is keen to see farmers enjoy the advantages available to the agricultural sector via the farm-based carbon offsets industry.
“It’s the ‘Farm of the Future’ – it’s already here,” says Ms Kiely, who states farmers can improve income diversity, gain productivity, achieve carbon credits, emissions reductions, biodiversity benefits, and more.
Together with soil carbon specialists Agriprove, Carbon Farmers of Australia is hosting the conference in Albury, from 23-26 May. The program kicks off with a ‘Carbon Farming 101 Workshop’ – an introduction to the basics of carbon farming such as defining methods, projects, and markets.
Then over two days, there are in-depth sessions along with an expo full of trade displays from industry professionals and agricultural agencies and departments.
“We’ll hear from the Carbon Market Institute about the updates to climate change policy mechanisms and trading options. We also have the Regenerative Ag Alliance, Meat & Livestock Australia, and an update on the CSIRO LOOC-C discovery tool.”
NSW DPI will explore where and how carbon farming can be integrated into current agricultural production.
Alastair Handley, Founder of Radicle Balance (Canada) will speak about international carbon markets, and his vision that emission reduction markets can build wealth, create jobs and export opportunities, and protect the environment for future generations all at once.
Attendees will also learn about measurement advances in the soil carbon space from Ignatius Verbeek, Principal of Agri X.
Ms Kiely adds there are opportunities to hear from farmers’ perspectives about what they have learned during their own soil carbon projects, and what activities they are using.
“I urge all farmers to come to the conference and get all the information you need to make decisions around your farm and how you can start to benefit now,” she says.
The National Carbon Farming Conference & Expo will be held in Albury. The event at a glance:
Monday 23 May: Pre-Conference Events
CARBON FARMING 101 WORKSHOP
WELCOME EVENT
Tuesday 24 May Conference & Expo Day 1
THE ‘FARM OF THE FUTURE’
HAPPY HOUR
GALA DINNER
Wednesday 25 May Conference & Expo Day 2
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
Thursday 26 May Post Conference Event
ADVANCED CARBON FARMING WORKSHOP
The program, registration, and sponsorship opportunities are available to view on the website: www.carbonfarmingconference.com.au
