Organic Insights Magazine - Summer 2022

Organic Insights / Summer 2022 / 17

Regen Farmers Mutual is looking to expand its reach through the appointment of a network of advisors across Australia. “Advisors can be individuals or networks, ag networks, farming systems, even stock and station agents….as it adds a further dimension to green provenance and traceability,” says Andrew. For further information, contact support@regenfarmersmutual.com

Members of the Mutual seeing Dalness Farm in Tasmania. Dalness has enhancing remnant vegetation and carbon + biodiversity projects on one farm

“That’s where the Mutual comes into its own.” The Mutual has been successful in gaining funding to undertake 7 landscape scale projects across Queensland (1), Victoria (6) and Tasmania (1). The first Traprock Regeneration Project has commenced in Southern Queensland. Andrew says that the farmer profile of those that he is working with is interesting. “I’d like to think that we are representing the average farmer.” “There are definitely more women, though, or wives of farmers being heavily involved… aware commodity farmers, early adopters, lifestyle blockers.” “People who know that you can’t do it on your own…but need to do it together.”

the basis for accessing environmental credits. “We have 50-60+ farmers who are currently using the technology and our waitlist has grown to over 400,” says Andrew. “The biggest movers are in beef cattle, sheep and goats, and grain is rapidly catching up.” “We are advising farmers to use carbon credits to lower their own farm emissions first; to then look at opportunities to offset their own value chain (in-stepping), with any excess sold on the market.” “We say net yourself out; look after your supply chain, and then sell any excess to the highest paying target.” The nature of the cooperative model encourages farmers to think beyond their own individual properties and look at the potential for a broader scale of collective action that can contribute to environmental improvement. Along with the carbon market, Andrew sees the future introduction of the Commonwealth biodiversity scheme as a mixed blessing, and cautions that it has the potential to create biodiversity “islands and walls, or disconnected corridors.” “We need connected areas for habitat extension, which requires cooperation at a macro level. The scheme does nothing to scope this,” he says.

Further Information regenfarmersmutual.com

theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/17/ australian-first-farmer-mutual-aims-to-cut- out-carbon-farming-middleman afr.com/companies/financial-services/ farmers-collect-data-to-measure- improvements-tap-carbon-markets-20211118- p599zo

The co-operative model, however, encourages farmers to see the local

environment “as a joint responsibility” says Andrew, “considering not only their own farm property, but upstream and downstream impacts.”

AndrewWard, Regen Farmers Mutual