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Through our courses, ‘Growing Soil Carbon 101’ and ‘Making Cents with Carbon Growers,’ along with our other extension initiatives, the SoilCQuest Carbon Farmscapes Program supports and educates farming system owners and managers in practices that will aid atmospheric decarbonisation through enhanced soil carbon sequestration.

By unpacking carbon markets and ACCU Scheme (ERF) Carbon Farming Projects, SoilCQuest empowers farmers to engage in carbon farming activities, thereby mitigating fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas-emitting technologies and practices.

Our climate-smart Exemplar Farms equip farmers with the resources and knowledge to implement carbon-growing farming practices, thereby contributing to decarbonisation efforts and minimising greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional farming practices.

Our research program aims to advance commercially viable, sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices, which inherently contribute to decarbonisation efforts. For instance, the multiyear intercropping trial explores alternative cropping systems that may require fewer inputs and emit fewer greenhouse gases than monoculture crops, thus helping to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural production.

Our Carbon Farmscapes Program supports Australian food security through improved soil health and productivity across agriculture practices such as grain intercropping, compost utilisation, and microbial inoculation. These practices increase farm productivity, hence food production, and, in the case of recycled food waste compost, promote waste diversion, aligning with efforts to create resilient and sustainable food systems.

Our Exemplar Farms promote these agricultural practices, improving productivity. By empowering farmers to enhance their resilience and productivity while minimising environmental impacts, SoilCQuest fosters commercially viable, regenerative and sustainable farming systems. Waste diversion opportunities and Exemplar Farms’ emphasis on sustainable, profitable enterprises further enhance primary production resilience.

The research program directly supports efforts to enhance food security and production by investigating sustainable cropping systems and improving soil health. Implementing practices like intercropping and optimising fertiliser regimes can increase agricultural productivity while minimising environmental impacts.

Through both our Carbon Farmscapes Program and Exemplar Farms, SoilCQuest prioritises the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of farm terrestrial ecosystems. These initiatives promote the sustainable management of habitat, biodiversity, and soils by testing and refining climate-smart farming techniques in real-world contexts. This ensures the long-term health and viability of terrestrial ecosystems while supporting agricultural productivity and resilience.

Our research program also fosters the preservation of farm ecosystems by focusing on soil health and biodiversity. By exploring innovative farming approaches and promoting sustainable land management practices, SoilCQuest works towards ensuring the long-term health of soils, forests, grasslands, and other terrestrial ecosystems.