Carbon farming and environmental markets offer landholders potential new income streams while improving soil health, biodiversity and landscape resilience. To help tackle climate change and reach NSW’s net zero targets, we’re encouraging more farmers to get involved.
New research reveals farmer motivations and barriers to getting involved in carbon projects, and what kind of support is most useful. Here's what you need to know:
- Farmers are very interested in carbon credits, but are unfamiliar with how environmental markets work.
- Farmers are familiar with the practices included in carbon farming methods.
- Farmers are motivated by more than just carbon credits.
- Farmers turn to trusted sources for information, and need information and support that is tailored to their needs.
What motivates farmers
Farmers care about more than carbon credits. They care deeply about their land and want to improve soil health, biodiversity, resilience and productivity.
Reliable and trusted information
Farmers trust local, face-to-face advice when deciding if a project suits their land. Apart from in-person events, they turn to trusted sources for more information, including government, agronomists, universities and grower groups. They want to see clear, local resources, including financial examples that speak to their context.
A path to a low emissions agriculture
This report highlights the attitudes, motivations, and barriers facing farmers. These insights can help government and industry design better carbon farming programs that meet farmers’ needs.
You can use this report and the PowerBI data to:
- design effective outreach, based on the needs of farmers
- better communicate carbon farming co-benefits
- build deeper understanding of farmers needs to tailor support.