Farming businesses will be able to explore the potential benefits of carbon farming and design and implement projects following a new partnership between Delta Agribusiness Group and Select Carbon.
The partnership will combine the skills and experience of Select Carbon, a specialist carbon farming company and Delta Agribusiness, an independent farm advisory business, to develop and implement carbon farming projects to add value to farming businesses through productivity improvements and the generation of carbon credits.
Under the partnership, farmers will be able to:
• Design carbon projects that optimise production and increase whole-farm profitability while building soil carbon
• Create market opportunities for early integration of new technologies (including new soil products)
• Future-proof and improve the sustainability of their businesses around carbon sequestration and GHG emissions.
Delta Ag executive director Chris Duff said carbon farming under the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) has been available for many years, however, there has been limited uptake of the Soil Carbon Method as farmers were unsure about the costs of baselining, requirements of a project, alignment with farm business goals and the specialist carbon skills required.
“An open and evidence-based interaction between a farming business, Delta Agribusiness and Select Carbon can build the confidence of a farmer that the appropriate due diligence assessments are made, with risks and benefits fully considered at the level of the carbon project itself and at the whole-farm business level,” he said.
Dr Susan Orgill, Select Carbon soil carbon program manager, said, “Our partnership with Delta Ag will give the farming sector access to independent, industry-leading and data-driven insights from agronomists and soil carbon specialists to reduce the risks and optimise the returns from carbon projects, making farms more profitable and resilient.”
Mr Duff said carbon farming is still a ‘grey space’ for many farmers, and it has been difficult for farmers to know who has the appropriate expertise and credibility.
“Select Carbon has a highly experienced and credible team that will provide both the sound business case and technical expertise for any carbon farming projects.
“The strategic partnership will enable farm businesses to work as a collaborative team with their primary farm advisor and carbon farming partner to the benefit of the overall farm operation in achieving better outcomes at all levels.”
Dr Orgill said bringing the right fit of carbon and farming experts together is so important as the viability of soil carbon projects and the integrity of the credits generated ultimately depends on the implementation of new, or additional farming practices.
“Carbon can be an add-on and should not require a trade-off with other key metrics of a farming business.”
Select Carbon tailors projects that go beyond compliance, and benefit farming systems by overcoming soil constraints, meeting water-limited yield potential, incorporating elite legumes and their rhizobia into crop rotations and pastures, addressing nutrient requirements and planning grazing management.
Farmers own their carbon project and earn carbon credits and can sell them on the market or use them to offset their own emissions.
Mr Duff said Delta Ag would use its innovative technology solutions and other agricultural core services to assist its customers across Australia adopt carbon farming practices.
“Delta Agribusiness is built on a foundation of providing its clients with independent and experienced farm consultancy and agronomy services with an overarching focus on adding tangible value to its client’s businesses across its expanding Australian footprint.
“Delta Ag is passionate about sustainable agriculture at all levels and is highly committed to investing in the rural communities in which it operates.”
