Project 3020
Program 3

Farm Systems GHG Evaluation

Project summary

Objective

Evaluate the emissions reduction potential of new and emerging technologies and their impact on production, profit, and risk within representative farm systems. It also aims to develop a framework for data sharing that integrates data from demonstration sites and other sources.

Timeline

2025–2028

Investment

$2.2 million over three years

Program lead

Richard Eckard

Richard Eckard

Program Lead

Richard Eckard

Richard is Professor of Carbon Farming at the University of Melbourne and science leader in the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre. His research focuses on carbon farming and accounting towards carbon neutral agriculture and options for agriculture to respond to a changing climate. Richard developed the first greenhouse gas accounting tools, for all sectors of agriculture in Australia, that now form an agreed national standard for agriculture. He is a science advisor to the Victorian, Australian, New Zealand, UK and EU governments, the International Livestock Research Institute and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on climate change adaptation, mitigation and policy development in agriculture. Richard is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Technology and Engineering and was recently named on the Reuters list of the world’s 1,000 most influential climate scientists

Overview

Assessing new and emerging technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture within a whole system context.

This project involves biophysical modelling, lifecycle analysis and economic assessments to provide whole farm systems evaluation.

Details

Investment
The CRC will invest $2.2 million over three years to assess multiple technologies across demonstration sites throughout Australia to determine the most promising emissions reduction technologies for scaling and investigation.

Importance
The project is crucial for Australian producers to understand the impacts of new and emerging technologies and make informed decisions about the adoption of technologies. The project will evaluate technologies and technology stacks and determine any synergies and trade-offs. This project will also identify the most promising technologies and technology stacks, to implement at CRC demonstration sites.

Impact
Farm Systems GHG Evaluation is expected to have a significant impact on the adoption of emissions reduction technologies in agriculture by empowering Australian producers with the information needed to make informed decisions, specific to their farm and landscapes. Findings from this project will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, case-studies, best practice guidelines. Field days at Producer Demonstration Sites and presentations at science and industry conferences.

Project team
This project brings together a highly qualified team of experts in farm systems analysis, biophysical modelling, lifecycle assessment and farm economics from the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Western Australia, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Research Timeline
The project spans from 2025 to 2028. The three-year period will allow the project team to conduct comprehensive evaluations, develop frameworks and assess the most promising technologies and technology stacks.

PhDs
This project includes two PhD students who will contribute to the project by developing expertise in farm systems modelling, lifecycle assessment and farm economics.

Practical Application
New and emerging emissions reduction technologies will be implemented on ZNE-Ag CRC Producer Demonstration Sites. Importantly, this project will consider the impacts of these technologies when combined or ‘stacked’. These technology stacks will be evaluated to determine if there is any cumulative emissions reduction impact.

At least three new or emerging emissions reduction technologies will be evaluated, and included in stacks, against key criteria for further development. Technology stacking refers to the combining of multiple technologies.

Essential for effective data management and utilisation of a framework for data sharing that integrates data from demonstration sites as well as other sources. Farm Systems GHG Evaluation will develop this framework encompassing data collation, model development and testing to enable integrated analysis.