Carbon farming outreach program

WHY THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT

Farmers are facing growing pressure to understand and reduce their emissions. Yet, knowing where to start with carbon farming can be complex.

The Carbon Farming Outreach Program, led by the Grower Group Alliance (GGA) with support from the Australian Government, delivers independent resources, education and tools to help farmers make confident, informed decisions about carbon management.

Project focus

The project is supporting landholders in reducing emissions, sequestering carbon, and exploring carbon farming opportunities. 

What is carbon farming & how is it different to "just farming"?

Carbon farming simply refers to land management strategies that integrate agricultural and forestry practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance carbon sequestration and improve farm resilience and efficiency.

'Carbon farming' is just farming—but with the added step of measuring and managing your greenhouse gas emissions and/or increasing carbon storage in soils and vegetation.

In short: you're doing many of the same practices, but also tracking the carbon impact of these practices and using that data to improve productivity, meet market demands, or access carbon markets.

Understanding carbon on your farm

Carbon exists in different parts of the farm ecosystem:

• Above-ground carbon in crops, pastures, shrubs and trees (stored through photosynthesis)
• Below-ground carbon in roots, organic matter, and soil microbes (vital for soil health).

Mixed farming systems cycle carbon through growth, soil inputs, grazing, and emissions. Farmers can manage carbon actively through practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, rotational grazing, and more.

Want to dive deeper? Learn more about the role of soil biology in the carbon cycle (Dr. Pauline Mele), or enroll in the online course Growing Carbon 101, available free to Riverine Plains members.

Why it matters to your farm

Over the last two decades, international agreements and national policies have shaped today’s expectations around farm-level emissions data. From the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 to the introduction of Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) in 2015, the path has led to increasing transparency and accountability. The timeline below shows the key milestones that led to today’s farm-level emissions requirements—from global agreements to recent Australian legislation.

 

 

In 2024, the Australian Government introduced new legislation: the Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. Starting in 2025, large businesses must report their climate-related risks—including supply chain emissions (known as Scope 3 emissions).

That’s why major food buyers like Coles, Woolworths and JBS now require emissions data from their suppliers. Even if you're not directly required to report your emissions, your buyers likely are—and that includes your farm’s footprint.

Not having this data may limit your access to markets, green finance, and supply chain partnerships in the future.

Estimate your emissions: free tools

To help estimate emissions, Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF) tools have been developed based on government science and models like the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM).

Some agritech companies have developed more user-friendly platforms based on the GAF tools. These platforms are free to use and designed to support farmers in getting started with emissions estimation.

At Riverine Plains, we suggest exploring the following options so that you can feel more confident in understanding 'greenhouse gas emissions data' and where your farms' greenhouse gas emissions currently sit across industry averages.

• Ruminati 
• AIA Carbon Calculator 

What’s the opportunity?

Your farm data can open doors. Becoming comfortable with the environmental policies that are creating demand for carbon related farm data will empower your farm business to make informed decisions in the future - decisions relating to market access, price premiums, farm management, and accessing green capital. 

Turn your data into value

Once you have your emissions data, here’s how it can benefit your farm:

1. Production efficiency: Use your GHGe profile to fine-tune inputs (e.g. fertilisers), improve soil health and unlock innovation bonuses. Read our blog: How carbon farming boosts soil productivity
2. Market access: Contribute to meeting requirements for certifications like ISCC, access low-emissions buyer programs, and position your product in premium markets.
3. Scope 3 emissions projects: Join retailer or processor-led programs to reduce supply chain emissions—often with co-investment, for example the Cargill SustainConnect Program
   
4. Carbon storage projects: Register in the ACCU Scheme and earn tradable credits for verified sequestration (1 ACCU = 1 tonne CO₂e). See real project examples at the ACCU project and contract register list, as well as successful carbon farming case studies: Growing carbon farming demonstration pilot-PIRSA
5. Insetting methods: Insetting involves reducing emissions or storing carbon within your own supply chain, allowing those reductions to count toward your business’s overall emissions footprint. This is different from offsetting, where you pay for emissions reductions that happen outside your supply chain. A real-world example is the Woolmark+ Australian Wool Insetting Program, which supports wool producers to reduce on-farm emissions—through native revegetation and improved livestock practices—while keeping those carbon benefits within the textile supply chain. Insetting is still emerging in Australia and currently comes with similar costs and complexity as formal carbon projects.
   
6. Natural capital & environmental markets: Documenting your natural assets (e.g. native vegetation, soils) can unlock new income from biodiversity credits, stewardship programs and more. Take the free Introduction to Natural Capital course or explore the NSW Government's Natural Capital Profiling Service Pilot 

Links and resources

• National Industry-led Carbon Farming Outreach Program (GGA)
  
• Carbon Farming Outreach Program training package - DCCEEW
• Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme | Clean Energy Regulator
  
• A farmer’s handbook to on-farm carbon management | AgriFutures Australia