State-first Carbon Ready Ag conference

Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC chief executive officer Richard Heath is the conference keynote speaker. (supplied)

South Australia’s first-ever Carbon Ready Ag Conference will be hosted in Port Pirie next month.

Hosted by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board at Port Pirie’s Northern Festival Theatre, this one-day event on Wednesday, August 27 for primary producers will focus on practical, profitable production in a changing climate.

Primary producers, agronomists, scientists and major agriculture industry players will speak about how carbon markets, natural capital and emissions reductions can work on the ground.

The line-up includes speakers from Rabobank, Viterra, Thomas Foods International, Wine Australia and more.

Conference emcee and former ABC rural journalist Annabelle Homer said the day was all about giving producers clear, useful information they could take home and apply.

“The conference is a valuable opportunity for producers to hear directly from other farmers, soil scientists, and agronomists about the future of carbon farming in 2025 and beyond,” she said.

“Carbon farming has been a foggy topic for many and surrounded by uncertainty – complex policies, shifting markets and unclear benefits.

“This conference will clear the air with real-world examples and local case studies that show what is possible for primary producers and landholders alike, and how to get involved.”

Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC (ZNE-Ag CRC) chief executive officer and keynote speaker Richard Heath said the conference was an important opportunity to hear about the challenges facing industry and the solutions available.

“Now more than ever, producers and industry are looking for credible, practical pathways to reduce emissions without compromising productivity or profitability,” he said.

“That’s exactly what ZNE-Ag CRC is here to deliver. Through rigorous on-farm trials at demonstration sites, cutting-edge science and national collaboration, we’re building the evidence base that producers can trust.

“I will be sharing information about the CRC projects that are underway and the pathways to a lower emissions future for agriculture.”

The event will run from 9am into the late afternoon, with a free community screening of the film Just a Farmer in the evening.

An optional field trip will also take place the next morning to HB Rural Feedlot, where attendees will see firsthand how they are working with CH4 Global to reduce methane emissions.

A Carbon Calculator Deep Dive Workshop will also run that morning, giving attendees the tools to measure and manage emissions on-farm.

For more information, contact Elly Pratt via elly.pratt@sa.gov.au or visit the conference website at bit.ly/CarbonReadyAg