Your farm’s future starts here
The whole world is embarking on a decarbonisation race. This creates opportunities for you as a farmer. There are financial incentives for you to take part in decarbonisation.
Carbon Sync is here to help you access those incentives.
Carbon Sync
Carbon Sync is a Western Australian-owned soil carbon farming project developer. We specialise in soil carbon farming, agricultural decarbonisation and ecosystem restoration.
These are the activities that can help you, as a farmer, access financial incentives that can enhance your enterprise's environmental and economic resilience.
Our Four
Pillars
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The productivity and profitability of your enterprise is our primary focus. Improvements in the health of your soil can reduce your reliance on inputs and improve soil water dynamics.
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Through participation in our programs, you will establish an emissions baseline and reduce your farm emissions. This will prepare your business to capture market opportunities by supplying low-carbon commodities.
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While farmlands are privately owned assets, the ecosystem services provided by farmland are public goods. For the first time, the work you do caring for the environment has a market value. You can now be paid for ecosystem service enhancement. Carbon Sync is here to support you in capturing this value.
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Farmers produce an immense array of data from their farming activities. These data are valuable and become part of the value for farmers to capture.
The products you create through Carbon Sync’s programs are intangible. In the case of soil carbon and decarbonisation, they can't be seen. All of these monetisable products are data products, which is why Carbon Sync is investing in customised data infrastructure to enable the creation of these products.
Capturing and monetising this data for economic resilience is likely the biggest opportunity this generation of farmers will encounter.
Return on Investment
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Soil carbon sequestration from our program can lead to carbon credits (ACCUs) being issued by the Clean Energy Regulator. Depending on the sequestration rate and ACCU price, farmers could conservatively earn between $650 and $4300 per hectare (net) in carbon credits over the life of a project. This is not financial advice. Please read our Terms of Service for further information on our financial disclaimer. You can also read more about the potential income from ACCUs here.
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Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from the healthy function of natural ecosystems, and include functions such as pollination, water and mineral cycling.
A mechanism being built to pay farmers for ecosystem services is called the Nature Repair Market. The legislation to enable this was passed by the Federal Government in 2023. The Nature Repair Market will operate similarly to the carbon market and will pay farmers for activities like protecting remnant vegetation and wildlife habitat. It will involve farmers following legislated methods in the same way as the carbon market. It will be designed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, and be administered by the Clean Energy Regulator.
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There are also opportunities for farmers to obtain incentives within agrifood supply chains.
Multinational agrifood businesses have announced ambitious decarbonisation plans; PepsiCo, for example, aims to reduce scope three emissions (emissions from downstream and upstream activties in their supply chain) by 40% by 2030 and has invested $300 million in regenerative agriculture extension programs in North America to support farmer adoption of climate and nature-positive practices.
Because these companies don't have any relationships with the producers of their feedstocks, which contribute to their scope three emissions, they are considering partnering with companies like Carbon Sync to deliver these projects.
Carbon Sync is actively engaging with off-take partners to sponsor a scope three insetting program for WA growers. Returns to farmers can range from payments per hectare for adopting certain practices, such as ceasing stubble burning, payments for actual emissions reductions, sponsorship of emissions reduction technologies and priority market access.
Insetting projects can take place alongside carbon sequestration projects.
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Farmers that pursue the creation of low-carbon or carbon-neural commodities may be able to access ‘Green Financial Products’ from banks and insurers that reward farmers for their environmental stewardship. These can take the form of discounted mortgage rates and insurance premiums.
Soil Carbon Farming Benefits
A soil carbon farming project results in multiple benefits beyond carbon credits and other income. Improve your farm’s resilience and profitability in the following ways:
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Improved Soil Health
Improve your soil health, reduce your reliance on external inputs and enhance your profitability.
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Increased Effective Rainfall
Healthy soil allows more rain to penetrate and minimises runoff and erosion. It reduces direct evaporation from the soil surface and increases transpiration from deeper soil water.
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Income Diversification
Broaden your farm’s income streams by accessing carbon credit and ecosystem service payments.
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Sustainability & Resilience
Soil carbon farming is an investment in your future legacy and that of our planet.
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Community Building
Become part of a trusted network of farmers who are changing their land management practises; to test ideas, share information and enjoy regular online and face-to-face engagement.
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Health & Wellbeing
A profitable farm with healthy soil allows for the improved health and well-being of you, the farmer and your family, as well as plants, animals and rural communities.
Our approach
Capturing the value from the decarbonisation race is complex. Carbon Sync’s team offers full-service project development and we’re with you, boots on the ground, for the life of your project. You retain full autonomy over the way you farm your land.
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Regenerative Cropping
Regenerative cropping is a transformative approach to farming that prioritises the restoration of your farm ecosystem. Regenerative cropping is inclusive of all practices and is directed by five core principles: maintaining a living plant in the soil as long as possible, keeping the soil covered by living canopy or crop residue, increasing crop diversity, minimising mechanical and physical disturbance and integrating animals where appropriate.
By working with nature rather than against it, we can create a more resilient farming system that sustains not just the current generation of farmers but also those to come. This method offers a practical pathway to rejuvenating your land, reducing your dependency on synthetic inputs, and ultimately achieving a more productive, profitable, and environmentally friendly farming operation.
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Holistic Management
Holistic Management is a decision making process that empowers you, the steward of the land, to achieve sustainable prosperity. This comprehensive approach invites you to manage your farm as a part of a larger ecosystem, with decisions that consider the economic, ecological, and social well-being of your community.
It involves carefully planned grazing practices, biodiversity promotion, and soil regeneration techniques that transform your land into a more productive asset. By adopting Holistic Management, you'll notice an increase in soil fertility, enhanced water cycles, improved crop yields, and healthier livestock—all while contributing to a greener planet.
Our Process
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To be eligible for the program, you must:
Have a cleared or cropped farming area of at least 250 hectares;
Be in the South-West Land Division of Western Australia; and
Adopt at least one new management practice for the project's life to store carbon in your soil.
Visit our Farmers Ask Questions page to learn about eligible land and management practices.
To get started, we’ll need information about your recent land use activities, such as cropping activities, livestock production, and average herd numbers. Our free tool can also provide a baseline farm emissions report.
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Once you’ve met the eligibility criteria, we register your project with the Australian Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
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Our experienced team will test baseline soil using advanced soil sampling equipment and technology. We will also calculate a baseline for your farm’s emissions.
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Carbon Sync’s team will work with you throughout the life of your carbon farming project. We will assist you in identifying and applying the regenerative management practices best suited to enhancing the health of your farm ecosystem.
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Carbon Sync will provide on-farm and virtual education and support (including peer support) throughout the 25-year project.
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Re-sampling and soil testing of the project area are performed between 18 months and five years after baseline sampling.
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When your soil organic carbon has increased, we will apply to the Clean Energy Regulator for the issue of carbon credits (ACCUs).
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When you work with Carbon Sync, you control your carbon credits. You can choose to hold or sell your credits. In the event you choose to sell your credits, Carbon Sync can help. We hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, which enables us to transact with the industrial sector, capturing the highest value for your credits. Carbon Sync does not charge fees for this service.
Our Research Partners
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Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre
Carbon Sync is a Foundation Partner in this multi-stakeholder approach to transitioning Australian agriculture to net-zero, healthy, resilient, and profitable food systems by 2040.
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Nature Positive Economy Cooperative Research Centre
Carbon Sync is a Partner in the bid under development to be submitted to the Australian Government for funding support in March 2024.
This CRC aims to develop future carbon and nature solutions that enable economic, environmental and social outcomes.
Our Grower Group Sponsorships
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Mingenew-Irwin Group (MIG)
Carbon Sync is an annual sponsor of MIG, which is a farmer community-driven grower group that covers approximately 320,000 hectares within the Geraldton Port Zone. MIG strives to share, adapt and create a space where farmers can openly come together to learn through information and education programs/workshops.
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Facey Group
Carbon Sync is an annual sponsor of the Facey Group, which is a not-for-profit grower-led group embodying relevant and localised research, extension, information and networking.
Facey Group covers the Top of the Avon and Blackwood River Catchments. Founded in 2001 as an incorporated association, Facey Group aims to build the aptitude of member businesses and farming practices.