The Fysh project at Mount Tom, near Gladstone, has become the fourth to receive carbon credits for sequestering carbon in its soil.

THE National Farmers Federation has raised concerns about proposed changes to Australia’s soil carbon methodology.

Four significant changes were recommended after a review was handed down earlier this year by Government advisory group the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee, including:

• Implement a cap of three (3) tonnes of soil organic carbon (tC) per hectare per year (after method prescribed discounts) – equivalent to approximately 11 ACCUs
• Strengthen sampling and stratification protocols that underpin measurement, project design and assurance.
• Restrict registration of multiple projects on the same landholding
• Report and publish annually on collective project performance to improve data transparency across the industry.

The review was largely welcomed by the soil carbon industry, including Precision Pastures chief executive officer Hamish Webb who recently gave an interview to The Week in Beef podcast.

A three-week submission period closed this week, which the NFF said in its submission was not long enough for the industry adequately respond.

“NFF is concerned by the limited consultation period provided for changes the Department itself describes as material.”

Providing confidence to producers

While the changes have been recommended to give confidence to the public that the soil carbon methodology has integrity, the NFF says it also needs to give confidence to industry.

“It is equally important that changes preserve confidence among farmers and project proponents alike who have made long-term investment decisions based on existing methodology settings.

“While integrity is fundamental, so too is confidence that scheme settings will remain sufficiently stable for those undertaking long term investment decisions.

“Where changes are required, they should be implemented in the least burdensome and disruptive manner possible with appropriate regard to existing projects.”

Soil carbon not including in IFLM

The NFF also expressed frustration about the soil carbon methodology not being included in the Department of Climate Change’s draft Integrated Farm and Land Management methodology – which will allow multiple projects to be stacked into one audit.

“The Department intends instead to commence this work next year. This is difficult to reconcile with successive Government commitments to deliver an integrated IFLM, and the Assistant Minister’s assurance that Government remains squarely focussed on its timely development as a priority.

“We also note that as the proposed adjustments in response to the integrity issues are relatively straightforward and do not require changes to the determination itself, the existing methodology can be readily mirrored and included as an activity module as part of the IFLM.”

• To read the full submission click here