More funds to drive carbon farming in WA

• Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program delivers over $1 million in further funding for WA farmers
• Three soil carbon projects receive $417,000 in capital assistance
• 67 farmers receive expert vouchers to develop carbon projects

The McGowan Government continues to drive carbon farming with a further $1.077 million investment to advance on-ground projects to help farmers adapt to more productive, sustainable and profitable farming systems.

A New Norcia hay enterprise exploring new legume and pasture systems is one of three applicants to receive funding from the McGowan Government's $15 million Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program to establish new soil carbon farming projects.

The Undanooka Soil Carbon Project will receive $155,000 to sow a serradella legume species, a mix of canola and lupins, and a clover sub-storey crop to increase nitrogen fixation, root biomass and soil carbon to improve overall soil health and agricultural productivity.

Along with the other funding recipients from Katanning and Denbarker, these three projects aim to generate an estimated 119,950 Australian Carbon Credit Units over 25 years through the Australian Emissions Reduction Fund.

The projects will also produce valuable data and information to increase the understanding of soil carbon in Western Australian farmland.

Increasing awareness of carbon farming has been reflected through significant interest in the WA Government's new Carbon for Farmers Voucher program, with 67 vouchers awarded to farmers from Binnu in the north to Esperance in the south.

Vouchers for up to $10,000 will be used to obtain expert advice to develop land management strategies that will inform investment decisions about integrating carbon farming into their business.

The funding for carbon farming projects and vouchers form part of the State Government's commitment to assisting farmers in realising their potential to sequester carbon and contribute to the growing carbon market. 

For a full list of projects funded by the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program, visit https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/CF-LRP

Comments attributed to Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

"Our Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program is advancing new ways of farming and doing business that support farmers with building sustainable operations while capturing the opportunities in the carbon market.

"It is encouraging to see the diversity of projects that are getting lift off and the tremendous interest in the Carbon for Farmers Vouchers to access expertise to learn more about carbon farming.

"Carbon farming has really cranked up a gear and gained momentum over the past year, as the national and global business community looks increasingly at the primary industries sector to offset carbon emissions.

"It is important that WA farmers and agribusinesses are well equipped and supported, through initiatives like the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program, to capture a share of this opportunity in building business resilience and remaining relevant and internationally competitive."

Comments attributed to Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby:

"Initiatives such as the Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program shows we are serious about acting on climate change.

"We know carbon farming will play an important role in helping our State achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and while emissions reduction is our priority, we recognise the need for offsets in hard-to-abate industries.

"Through our sectoral emissions reduction strategy, the McGowan Government is providing leadership on climate and providing a credible framework to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050."

Agriculture and Food Minister's office - 6552 6200

Climate Action Minister's office - 6552 6300