Carbon Farming Futures

The application period for the Filling the Research Gap program round one is now closed.
Future Funding will be announced at a later date.
To view the guidelines, or to find out more, visit the Filling the Research Gap webpage,
email FTRG or call 1800 108 760.

The Australian Government’s Securing a Clean Energy Future plan, released in July 2011, has been developed by the Australian Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to an acceptable level and drive investment in renewable energy. The Plan contains four elements – carbon price, innovation in renewable energy, energy efficiency and action on the land (Land Sector Package). Further details on the plan can be found on the Clean Energy Future website.

The Plan’s $1.7 billion Land Sector Package is about creating new opportunities for land managers to enhance productivity, gain economic benefits and help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon storage can also increase the land sector’s resilience to climate change, protect Australia’s natural environment and improve long term farm productivity.

Direct emissions from agriculture are excluded indefinitely from liability under the carbon price mechanism. However, the land sector currently represents 24 percent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions with methane and nitrous oxide emissions, accounting for around 58 and 76 percent of agriculture’s emissions respectively. These emissions represent an opportunity for agriculture to play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change.

The Carbon Farming Futures program will provide $429 million to ensure that advances in emissions reduction technologies and techniques will continue the evolution of management practices in the land sector towards emissions reduction and improved productivity. These advances will allow farmers and other landholders to benefit from the economic opportunities of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) while assisting Australia in achieving its long term emission reduction targets.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is responsible for delivering three components of the Carbon Farming Futures program:

• Filling the Research Gap - $201 million to fund research into new technologies and practices for land managers to reduce emissions and store soil carbon. Also includes a national survey to identify common practice.
• Action on the Ground - $99 million to assist industry and farming groups test and apply research outcomes in real farming situations.
• Extension and Outreach - $64 million to provide information, support and an extension network to assist farmers to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative.

The Government’s plan for a clean energy future will transform the way Australians care for and manage our natural resources. Land sector measures will provide additional opportunities for stakeholders to engage in projects that reduce or store carbon in the landscape, as well as to improve biodiversity and other environmental outcomes in their regions.

Over $1.7 billion of carbon revenues will be invested in the land sector in the next six years through funding programs – most of which are ongoing. The land sector measures are:

• Carbon Farming Futures ($429 million over six years) – Funding measures to help farmers and other landholders to benefit from carbon farming. Comprises five elements
  • Filling the Research Gap ($201 million over six years) to fund research into new technologies and practices for land managers to reduce emissions and store soil carbon. National survey to identify common practice. Commences in 2011/12.
  • Converting research into methodologies ($20 million over six years) to convert research into estimation methodologies for use in the CFI. Commences in 2012/13.
  • Action on the Ground ($99 million over six years) to assist industry and farming groups test and apply research outcomes in real farming situations.
  • Refundable Tax Offset (RTO) (over three years) to provide 15% RTOs for new eligible conservation tillage equipment installed between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015.
  • Extension and Outreach ($64 million over six years) to provide information, support and an extension network to help farmers take action on the land.
• Biodiversity Fund ($946 million over six years) - Support for projects that establish, restore, protect or manage biodiverse carbon stores. Commences in 2011/12.
• Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund ($22 million over five years) - support Indigenous participation in the Carbon Farming Initiative. Commences 1 July 2012.
• Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund ($44 million over five years) - Support for regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations to incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation components into existing regional NRM plans. Commences 1 July 2012.
• Carbon Farming Skills ($4 million over five years) - Funding available for training and accreditation of carbon brokers and aggregators so landholders have access to credible, high quality advice and carbon services. Commences 1 July 2012.
• Carbon Farming Initiative Non-Kyoto Carbon Fund ($250 million over six years) - Government purchase of land sector abatement that is not counted towards Australia’s emissions targets under current accounting rules. Commences 1 July 2013.
• Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board - Establishment of a permanent, expert board to provide advice on implementation of the measures.