An emissions trading scheme (ETS) that leaves agriculture out of the equation is a mistake, according to the Biological Farmers of Australia.
In its response to the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper, the country’s largest organic business and farmer representative group has urged the government to take eco-friendly farming practices into account.
“While we applaud policy moves towards reduced carbon pollution, discounting agriculture from a proposed ETS omits what could arguably be the biggest single optimal positive impact on carbon abatement and sequestering: Soils,” BFA director Andrew Monk argues.
BFA says that better carbon soil sequestration by landowners using biological systems, minus emissions-intensive fertilisers and other chemicals, was of huge benefit to the environment.
“Organic and biological farmers should be given the opportunity to opt in to an emissions scheme from 2010,” says Dr Monk. “Organically managed soils are active models of an agricultural system which can deliver carbon sequestration and emission reduction benefits right now.”
The BFA says soils under organic management have the potential to store carbon for up to 1000 years. In addition, the fact that there are no synthetic chemical outputs from organic farming methods means a reduction in harmful CO2s of up to 60 percent compared with non-organic practices.
“Organic farmers have to date internalised the costs of a production system that provides environmental benefits,” Dr Monk says. “It’s now time for stronger policy and R&D recognition of the merits of organic production in Australa.”
For the full text of the BFA’s green paper submission, click here.
