Carbon Storage Partnership

Lead:

Professor Matthew Harrison

Team:

• Professor Peter Grace
• Associate Professor David Rowlings
• Dr Rachelle Meyer
• Oli Madgett
• Dr Hayley McMillan
• Dr Nahuel Pachas
• Mr Nick Kempe

Funding:

• Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
• Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI)

Partners:

• University of Melbourne
• Integrity Ag & Environment
• Rabobank
• The Mullion Group
• Australian National University
• RMCG
• South Coast NRM
• New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
• CSIRO
• Agrimix
• Queensland University of Technology
• QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Cloud Agronomics

Farm revegetation has substantial potential to improve biodiversity outcomes

The research team apply a habitat-based biodiversity assessment approach to examine the potential for grazing farms across Australia to improve outcomes for biodiversity by revegetating 10 % of the farm area. It includes 14 case study farms across Australia.

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review
This review examined how livestock grazing management (e.g. animal densities and duration of grazing), as well as fertiliser, pasture species, soil type, climate and other forms of farm management impacted on soil carbon gain or loss

Operationalising net-zero with biochar: black gold or red herring?
This work explores implications associated with feeding biochar to cattle for greenhouse gas emissions, profitability, soil carbon and social licence to operate.

Clarifying confusions over carbon conclusions
This paper examines how initial soil carbon stocks influence gains or losses in carbon following management practice change. The paper shows the influence of soil texture, climate, management, fertilizer, crop type, sowing time, genotype and other factors on rate of change of soil carbon over time (sequestration).

How to fix Australia’s approach to soil carbon credits so they really count towards our climate goals
This Conversation piece problems associated with the Australian Government’s approach to crediting landholders for gains in soil carbon. Several suggestions for improvement are offered.

Costs of transitioning to net zero under future climates
This original research article explores economic and biophysical costs associated with implementing pathways towards net zero (genetic, agronomic, environmental, engineering, agroecological).

Advancing place-based crop modelling for global adaptation to crop waterlogging
This research demonstrates how advances in modelling analytics can be used to adapt to and overcome crop waterlogging. Multiple forms of adaptation to waterlogging are proposed (agronomic, crop genetics, engineering).

Cattle, cash, carbon and the climate crisis
This work examines the interplay between greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and climate change adaptation, together with implications for costs, food security and environmental stewardship.

Costs of transitioning the livestock sector to net-zero emissions under future climates

Land managers are challenged with the need to balance priorities in production,
greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement, biodiversity and social license to
operate. Here, we develop a transdisciplinary approach for prioritising land
use, illustrated by co-designing pathways for transitioning farming systems to
net-zero emissions.

'Care' of country: Grazing management and sense of place

In the semi-arid rangelands of southern Australia livestock producers must balance livestock production with landscape function to achieve business resilience. Under highly variable climatic conditions, their approach to grazing management is a key element in achieving production and landscape targets.

Planting trees on farm: implications for biodiversity and natural capital (webinar)

Professor Matt Harrison was a speaker in this webinar which provided an outline of the Carbon Storage Partnership, the impacts of planting trees on farm on carbon, biodiversity and natural capital and other related issues

Climate-smart farming: protecting land, securing the future

This video provides an overview of the farm management practices that a Tasmanian farmer has used to adapt to seasonal climate variability and improve drought resilience while maintaining environmental stewardship

Regenerative agriculture: food, profit, emissions

This video provides a simple introduction to regenerative agriculture. It explains the main practices involved, such as cell and rotational grazing, silvopastoral systems, agroforestry, minimal soil disturbance, reduced use of synthetic fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, and greater diversity in farming systems.

Can grazing management increase soil carbon? (webinar)

This video describes findings from an extensive literature review on the impacts of grazing and farm management on soil carbon.

Biochar as a feed supplement: implications for profit, carbon and sustainability (webinar)

This webinar showcases experimental results from research conducted on a commercial farm in Tasmania, where cattle were allowed ad libitum (free) access to feed-grade biochar.

Costs of transitioning to net zero under future climates

This video discusses the costs of transitioning farming systems to net-zero emissions and associated topics.

Carbon cycling 101 and climate change

This video provides an overview of carbon cycling and pathways for reducing carbon.

Carbon and biodiversity markets associated with planting trees

This video describes introductory principles and opportunities for landholders to participate in carbon and/or biodiversity markets associated with planting trees on farm.

Rethinking global warming from methane: GWP* vs GWP100

Renowned US-scientist Professor Mitloehner was invited by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture to deliver a presentation on rethinking global warming.

Soil carbon markets: science or snake-oil?

This video breaks down the hype about soil carbon.

Pathways to net-zero emissions

This video covers pathways to carbon neutral (or net zero) agricultural systems.

Grazing management and soil carbon

This factsheet address the question 'can grazing management improve soil organic carbon?'

Juggling profit, climate, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity: the livestock farmer's conundrum

Farmers have a lot on their plates maintaining profitability, while juggling other emerging challenges like climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and biodiversity. The need for innovations that boost productivity, profitability and biodiversity while slashing GHG emissions has never been higher.

Reducing emissions in the rangelands

This article discusses optimal interventions for rangeland producers to reduce their emissions without compromising profit, productivity or biodiversity habitat.