Dr Dennis Jensen MP

Soil Carbon: Greater Productivity and Carbon Dioxide Reduction

A collaborative venture between Murdoch University, DAFWA, Alcoa, ChemCentre WA, University of Notre Dame and UWA is showing us the way forward for Australian agriculture and carbon dioxide reduction.

By applying Alcoa’s bauxite processing waste (a clay based substance) to sandy Western Australian soils and can be adopted world wide.

Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage joined me recently at Murdoch University’s test site. Don Randall MP was also on hand to see the success of trials.

With Hon Greg Hunt MP and Don Randall MP discussing the passing of the Carbon Tax.

The future of Australian agriculture lies in the development of arable land and reliable water supplies. Investment in soil carbon may provide a mechanism that allows large-scale change to climate resilient farming in Australia.

The team is led by Prof. Richard Harper, Alcoa Chair in Sustainable Water Management at Murdoch University, who has thirty years experience in programs addressing land and water degradation and “climate change mitigation”.

These trials were established over the last 30 years and results are very promising, with an additional 50 tonnes of CO2 accumulating in the soil per hectare.

Inspecting a sample test site with University representatives and Alcoa executives.

That’s a solution to improving domestic food production and absorbing carbon dioxide right there.

No tax, no big government bureaucracy and the Coalition has long term funding streamsearmarked for sustainable projects just like this.

While this project is concentrating on WA conditions, it is applicable to sandy soils across Australia and the world. WA is leading the world in environmental sustainability.

Querying the cost benefit analysis figures of the project and whether the scheme could be adopted elsewhere in Australia.

Australia also has several difficult environmental problems including salinity, wind erosion and nutrients leaching into waterway.

Adding clay to the soil allows soil to hold more carbon and other nutrients and has the potential to decrease nutrient losses to waterways and estuaries.

The co-benefits of this project can not be overlooked, increased food production, nutrient management, carbon dioxide storage and overall greater profitability from the land.

This is the sort of research we should be framing the Carbon Tax debate in. Measurable results free of slogans and catch cries.

Discussing the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan with Greg Hunt.

Below: Moving to the next test site with Greg Hunt and Prof Richard Harper.