After the excitement of last week and the first Paris – compliant Soil Carbon Credits being issued and sold in the first day, we have received many enquiries about the Soil Carbon Method.
Rest assured, we’ll go into detail at the conference (particularly in the Advanced Workshop on 8 August ‘From theory to Project’). CFA is happy to have a chat and get going earlier to a project if desired.
But, today we intentionally digress –
After all, the ERF approved Soil Carbon Method requires very specific measurements, etc. (CFA believes it is worth the effort as we believe the price of Carbon will increase over the next 10 years and the Present is always the best time to start!)
HOWEVER, there are so many good and important things happening outside the ERF. The Regenerative Agricultural Alliance, Land to Market, Organic Farming, those improving Soil Carbon outside the ERF, to name a few.
At the conference, we will explore a few, including International methods available to be implement here, but today let’s look at:
Part 1: Carbon Insetting
‘Carbon insetting’ is a type of carbon emissions offset that’s gaining popularity, particularly among brands with climate change challenges along their supply chain (any company reliant on a FARMER, for instance)!
Unlike traditional carbon offsetting, insetting is about more than carbon sequestration. It’s about a company building resilience in their supply chains and restoring the ecosystems on which their growers depend. (Sounds like Regenerative Agriculture to me!)
So, let’s say you are Nestle, and you have a very big need to continue the supply of coffee beans from what might be poorer farmers in remote places.
If Nestle plants trees, improves the soil etc ON THOSE FARMS, they can calculate HOW much emissions reduction/sequestration has been achieved AND secure their supply chain!
Without the need to buy ‘offsets’.
Be aware that in most cases, the farmers DO NOT get the benefit of a Carbon Credit income. But it may be easier for the farmer than having to be involved in a ‘method’, perhaps.
Be aware this is EARLY days and I bring this to you as my intention is for us all to think ‘outside the square’ to push this Carbon Farming Market into the mainstream.
There’s another great explainer of carbon insetting here.
Is ‘insetting’ happening in Australia?
Hell, yes.
There is a wonderful Regenerative Farmer (and Carbon Cocky Entrant) on Phillip Island who has been beavering away outside of the ERF to build his soil Carbon.
He has been working with scientists, and Land care groups to ensure his measurement, monitoring and results are well documented and can be verified. He has built his Soil Carbon levels.
AND he has an arrangement with a ‘buyer’ who will be able to make claims around the ‘insetting’ agreement. Transparency between the two parties, but outside a ‘method’.
To learn more about this, Moragh MacKay will bring us this presentation at the conference – “Insetting soil carbon increases outside the ERF – a case study”.
ONWARDS!