As an agricultural practice, carbon farming is intended to combat greenhouse gas emissions by improving soil’s ability to store carbon. This approach is producing hope and concern alike in Western Australia. Louise Edmonds, another key voice at Carbon Sync, is very passionate on the potential of carbon farming. This optimism is despite a growing chorus of experts questioning whether it is even remotely feasible for the region. While the project starts off on the first phase, stakeholders are widely watching to see how this very ambitious environmental initiative turns out.
The project represents a huge step for the adoption of carbon farming in WA, covering 15,000 hectares of land area under management. The winning team had spent more than a decade developing the method. Carbon Sync had not done their own independent testing prior to launching this new project. Edmonds understands why so many people doubt the project would ever materialize. He acknowledges that these fears are “valid” since there have been no prior in-field tests of carbon farming on the peninsula. Regardless, she says there’s no doubt that Carbon Sync is tied to her and her team’s success.
The Science Behind Carbon Farming
Another recent study, led by Rebecca Edmonds, emphasizes seasonal variability as an important driver of soil carbon stocks. This seasonal variation impacts both the amount of carbon that can be stored, as well as the risk farmers will encounter. In her own words, she clarifies that these processes often require time and space. She notes that their strategy has shifted, now concentrating on demonstrating the commercial viability of the projects.
Andrew Macintosh, a professor of environmental science warns of the potential dangers that farmers will face. He emphasizes that storing carbon in soils within the Midwest and Wheatbelt regions poses significant challenges due to natural variability and year-to-year climate changes. “I would be very worried for anyone attempting a soil carbon project in [this] part of Western Australia,” he writes.
Five, six years ago, projects on the East Coast are starting to see very significant soil carbon gains. The story in the Midwest seems to be one of a much slower pace of progress. Today, long‐term data on soil carbon measurements for this region are limited. This lack of a national presence leaves a void and much concern about the current efforts.
Market Dynamics and Regulatory Concerns
Under carbon farming, landholders can earn a single ACCU for each tonne of carbon they store. Fortune 500 companies that want to claim carbon neutrality buy these credits with great enthusiasm. This bustling market isn’t without its troubles. McIntosh critiques the regulatory framework that has come to oversee these projects. As he explains, “This scheme is severely compromised by horrendous mismanagement by the very agency that should be overseeing this.”
The Clean Energy Regulator understands these concerns but believes making informed decisions is critical for project proponents. A spokesperson remarked, “If proponents understand these risks and how to manage them, they can make informed decisions about scheme participation and maximise project outcomes.”
Even with regulatory challenges, Edmonds stands by the burgeoning assurance in carbon farming. As to the future, she feels the whole approach and ecosystem are changing for the better. This maturity brings hope for eventually successful implementation in places like Western Australia.
Community Voices and Perspectives
Our local stakeholders convey both hope and a deep apprehension about the implementation of carbon farming practices. Dee McKeown, a farmer involved in these discussions, points out that there remains “a lot of unknown from the grower’s side.” She focuses on transparency and helping farmers understand what is out there and what methods are available.
McKeown notes that the soil carbon side is subject to a lot of imagined limitations. These legal limitations directly undermine our ability to deploy the appropriate soil types and practices needed to adapt to our changing climate. She includes that farmers don’t want to take the risk of adopting something unproven themselves. We don’t want to unnecessarily expose ourselves. It’s really important that we understand the ways we’re being told we can address things are real options to us in the state,” she adds.
Farmers understand that no one’s conditions are quite like theirs and so they need individualized approaches. McKeown asserts, “Growers are very unique in that science only applies when they see it in practice because regions are so different.” This underscores the need for targeted, place-based approaches that address unique and variable environmental contexts.
