Prominent Queensland-based agribusiness accounting and advisory firm Bentleys has launched its own Carbon Fund, after taking a minority interest and board seat in carbon development business Australian Integrated Carbon Pty Ltd.

The acquisition would bring investors and existing clients into the emerging carbon industry and aimed to boost capital for high-quality carbon development advisory, Bentleys said in a statement.

Carbon developers work with farmers to achieve viable sources of carbon sequestration and emissions reduction/ avoidance.

Ben Cameron

Bentleys Queensland managing partner Ben Cameron said the fund brought Bentleys, its investors and clients into the carbon development industry.

“We look forward to growing our knowledge and the success of our investors,” Mr Cameron said.

“As landowners, our clients will play a major part in ‘decarbonising’ the planet. Currently, only one percent of Australian farmland owners are active in carbon farm management, so there is a lot of opportunity ahead for them in this emerging industry.”

“As their advisors, we must provide them with a reliable source of truth as this industry evolves. We believe the way to do this is to align ourselves with a reputable carbon developer. There is no better way to gain knowledge of an industry than to have skin in the game,” Mr Cameron said.

Through the fund, Bentleys said it hoped to assist the growth of high-quality carbon developers and connect farmers and primary producers with the specialist advisory services they needed to adapt in this ever-changing environment.

The new carbon fund has been established through Bentleys Queensland’s Australian Financial Services license (AFSL), which is a growing services area for the company.

About Bentleys: 

Bentleys Queensland has been servicing rural clients both locally and overseas for more than 70 years. The company has more than 170 professionals across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and Emerald offices, providing a range of support across business & strategic advisory, accounting, taxation, audit, international & investment advisory, risk & assurance, corporate recovery & insolvency, technology & innovation, R&D, self-managed superannuation, HR, finance & lending, and wealth management.