There’s a bit happening in the carbon space right now. The UN recently released another report stating that the globe faces an increasingly steep rise in temperatures without a quick reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG).
The discussion around this topic can seem a little one-sided at times. With a global population of 8 billion and climbing to 10 billion this century, Australia’s agriculture industry is looking at ways of maintaining food and fibre production while managing sustainability credentials.
Natural capital is also on the agenda and companies and bankers are starting to include assessment of Natural capital in their business activities. Natural capital includes:
- Soil
- Remnant vegetation
- Pastures and cropping
- And other bits that farmers have been doing all along!
The aims of assessing Natural capital include:
- Raising productivity
- Drought resilience
- Improved environmental values
- Improving income stability
What can growers do?
I’d encourage growers across the country, not just here in WA, to engage in the conversation, learn how emissions emanate from grains and the environment (even if just enough to comprehend the conversation), and have a go at a carbon calculator to see what level of emissions your farm produces. Research will continue to refine how we produce grain and reduce emissions while maintaining profitability. The more you know in the meantime means you’ll be able to take advantage of an emerging technology that could make a difference on your farm.
Self-education on the topic is an important way to start.
So, where do you start?
Learning the basics – you can’t do better than reading the GrainGrowers ‘Carbon and Cropping’ book. You can download it here, or we’ll happily post you a copy. It’s regarded as the best introductory publication on the basics of the carbon emissions topic. It deciphers the jargon and biological processes, and it only refers to grain production.
Consider using a carbon calculator to see where your farm sits. The PICCC (Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre) calculator from Melbourne University is one that could help you get started. You’ll find you already have all the data needed by the calculator to arrive at an emissions number. The cropping version is G-GAF and you can get it here.
Attend events where carbon and emission are on the agenda. AgZero2030 and the West Midland Group in WA recently held very comprehensive events where this topic was explored in depth. There’ll be plenty more – some very unbiased, like the two mentioned, and presenting good information and a few others where the subject may be skewed a little to one side of the issue. You’ll soon work out what approach suits your farm business.
New tools and practices are starting to appear that will help with grain production emissions in the future. Nitrogen is the biggest carbon emitter on a grain farm by far, and CSBP has released a coated urea product, Urea Sustain, for broadacre use. GRDC is investing in methods of nitrogen application to reduce volatilisation and improve use efficiency. There’ll be plenty of other new products coming soon no doubt.
Getting across the issue in broad terms is your first step. Rest assured the industry is also investing in solutions so that your grain business remains viable in the new ‘carbon world’, and GrainGrowers will continue to keep growers updated and informed as this space evolves.
Further Reading
GrainGrowers Carbon Calculator report
