Parallel Universes or Universes in Collision?

Michael Kiely Carbon Farmers of Australia Save Our Soils Save the Family Farm Save The Planet: The Soil Carbon Solution

PARALLEL UNIVERSES? SCIENCE & AGRICULTURE Science has failed to reproduce results farmers get. Pots and Plots? Methodology? Effect of observer?

COLLIDING UNIVERSES? “ Soil Science Summits” Bring scientists and farmers together Agricultural Scientists & Agricultural Experimentalists Sharing perspectives Collaborative Research? Use farmers’ practical knowledge to reality-check scientific attempts to recreate reality

WHO CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE? ESTIMATIONS OF SOIL C MARKET “POTENTIAL” WHO CAN PREDICT… The Price of Carbon when USA, China & India eventually enter a market already suffering shortages of offsets? The Costs of measurement when market reaches critical mass? The Rates of Carbon Sequestration when results from new biotech solutions contradict estimations of peer-reviewed science? Can We Predict New Ideas, or New Technology?

CONFIDENCE IN SCIENCE? Among farmers? In the community? How RIGHT can it be? About what?

SOIL CARBON SOLUTION IS INEVITABLE? WHY? FUNDAMENTAL FACTS

MORE AUSTRALIAN ICONS DESTROYED (MURRAY-DARLING RIVERS SYSTEM)

2. THREAT OF INVASION FROM ASIA?

3. NO SHORT TERM SOLUTION (except SOIL CARBON) Professor Rattan Lal*: “… a bridge to the future” Professor Bruce McCarl*: “ instantly implementable ” *IPCC Lead Author

Neither “ Clean Coal” Nor Nuclear Power Nor Solar Energy Nor Wind Turbines Nor Forests can remove the Legacy Load* of CO2e In the next 10-20 years. *(70-100 years’ backlog of emissions already in atmosphere is enough to drive us through the dangerous 2°C level into Climate Chaos)

PHOTOSYNTHESIS CAPACITY DEPLOYMENT CRITICAL MASS ONLY AT MASSIVE AT FULL AND SIGNIFICANT CAN TACKLE THE LEGACY LOAD

FARMERS MANAGE 60% of TERRESTIAL SURFACE CAPACITY 5.5 BILLION HECTARES DEPLOYED CAN EXTRACT 10 BILLION TONNES CO2e CRITICAL MASS @ .55 TONNES CARBON/HECTARE WHEN THE WORLD EMITS 8.5 BILLION TONNES CO2e MORE THAN IT SHOULD EACH YEAR

Why Carbon Farming? (Time to reach critical mass) 10 20 30 40 50 Years Soil Forests Clean Coal Nuclear Wind Solar The World has 10 Years to do something serious about Global Warming- STERN REPORT / NASA

OFFICIAL ‘BARRIERS TO TRADE’ 1. No peer-reviewed data available as evidence of Australian soils ʼ capability. 2. Common belief that soil carbon is ʻ hard to measure ʼ . 3. Additionality provisions of Kyoto Protocol which state that an action must be taken primarily for the purposes of sequestration. 4. Permanence provisions of Kyoto, which refers to the so-called “100 Year Rule”. 5. Lack of an agreed methodology for measurement, monitoring and verification. 6. The cost of baselining and regular updates of soil carbon scores.

THE REAL BARRIERS The most important barriers to soil carbon trading are: a.) the science is lagging the politics; b.) ignorance of the issues at all levels; c.) fear of the soil solution; and d.) lack of a sense of urgency.

Sense of urgency in Government: wait until 2015? Department For Finding Reasons Why Soil Carbon Cannot Be Traded Rules suit fossil fuel and forestry (the 3 F’s) Rules seem to be designed to shut out soil carbon $4billion for fossil fuel industries $…..? Soil carbon THE REAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

The real barrier is between the ears

Governments cannot lead, but only follow. Green groups cannot lead, but only react The People alone can lead. If not you, who? If not now, when?

“ I walked away feeling very excited!” “ A stellar cast!” The Land “ Euphoric!” 30 Expert Speakers “ A challenging time ahead.” 2008 CARBON FARMING DVD ON SALE NOW! CONFERENCE A SOIL CARBON “ Great speakers” Now on Audio and DVD Sunflower photo David Ward CELEBRATION

KEEPING UP WITH CARBON FARMING Leading Carbon Cockies reveal their techniques Australia’s top soil scientists offer solutions New soil carbon trading scheme launched AND MUCH MORE…SEE www.carbonfarming.net.au Video DVD: $165 + $9.50 P& H Audio CD: $95 + $9.95 P&H CALL 02 6374 0329 2009: THE YEAR OF SOIL CARBON DVD/CD Photo: David Ward DVD ON SALE NOW! Support the Soil Carbon Movement BUY ONE FOR YOUR GROUP SUPPORTS Latest round of Caring For Our Country

“ Uamby” via Goolma NSW 2852 26 December, 2008 Hello, Today I heard a news report that made me depressed. The banks have started foreclosing on farmers impacted by Climate Change. It makes me spit. While the big city investor gets a tax break to buy up family farms and plant forests as ‘carbon sinks’, the farmer is to be slugged with a ‘tax’ for emissions… but denied the right to trade the soil carbon they can sequester. Soil carbon credits alone could save family farms. The Garnaut Report’s figures indicate that soil carbon credits could add 30% to a farmer’s income. Properly managed, pasture and croplands can capture and hold more carbon than a forest… and provide food and incomes for local people. We know that. But it takes a lot of explaining to get decision-makers to understand. It takes a lot of time with scientists to get the evidence we need. And it takes a lot of travelling to speak with farmers and tell them that soil carbon can potentially offset their emissions plus provide as buffer against lower rainfall and higher temperatures. This is the work of the Carbon Coalition. And we need your help to continue. We are getting close to 1/next… An Appeal From The Carbon Coalition

We have big plans for 2009: SOIL-C-CENTRAL is a mega-website under construction that will provide access to every important source of information about soil carbon. WORLD SOIL CARBON SYMPOSIUM: We plan to stage a webcast conference linking soil carbon experts on 5 continents in an event that will gain global attention. NATIONAL SOIL CARBON STRATEGY to map the best way forward. CARBON FARMING PILOT PROGRAM: This will see 50 farmers across Australia demonstrating in real time how they can grow soil carbon levels and offset their methane and nitrogen emissions - to prove it can be done. … 2/next success. Carbon Farming is widely acknowledged as a win-win-win solution: It is about healthy soils, healthy landscapes, healthy farm profits and healthy rural communities. And a healthy climate: Soil carbon experts believe that the world’s 5.5 billion hectares of agricultural soils can absorb enough CO2 to give renewable energy alternatives time to reach critical mass. It is the only hope we have of staving off the worst effects of Climate Change.

5. SCIENTIFIC EXPERT PANEL: We have started this project which aims to give Australian landholders the same access to markets enjoyed by US and Canadian farmers. 6. AUSTRALIAN CARBON FARMING ASSOCIATION: An official organisation to manage services to members and add weight to the Coalition’s lobbying efforts. 7. BUYERS’ GUIDE TO BIOFERT: A “Choice Magazine”-style service that rates suppliers of soil treatments based on customer ratings. Great outcomes if we succeed. And we have come a long way in a short time. When we started in late 2005 ‘soil carbon’ was not on the radar. After PM Rudd announced a national enquiry into the issue, The Land’s Matt Cawood said: “ You single-handedly barnstormed the issue onto the National Agenda… We wouldn’t be talking about soil carbon if it wasn’t for you.” And this month the UN’s Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) acknowledged the Coalition’s contribution to its own campaign for changes to the Kyoto rules about soil carbon at Copenhagen 2009. … 3/next

Enclosed you’ll find an ad for the DVD and CD recordings of the recent Carbon Farming Conference - the latest word on the subject and still the only dedicated Carbon Farming conference in the world. Australia is acknowledged as the leader in carbon farming by practitioners in the USA and Africa. More than 30 experts shared their insights at this unique conference. It’s an ideal resource for your group or your staff. We have also produced The Carbon Farming Handbook, a solid introduction to the field and a useful resource. Again, the only one of its kind, and again world-leading information. By purchasing anything from Carbon Farmers of Australia, you enable the work of the Carbon Coalition to continue. An order form is enclosed. You can also use the Order Form make a donation to support the work of the Carbon Coalition. Look at the dominos on page 2. And count the ways you can make the world and better, safer place for our children and grandchildren. Thank you for your support, Michael Kiely Co-Convenor Carbon Coalition PS. You could do a great thing if you passed this email around your networks. …4/ends

The Carbon Farming Handbook Written by Michael Kiely, author of Carbon Coalition’s blogsite for 3 years, journalist and editor, and carbon farmer. Educated by Australia’s best carbon farmers and soil scientists. Australia’s leading commentator on soil carbon issues. AT LAST! An Introduction to Soil Carbon, Land Management & Climate Change For Beginners and Experts Chapters include: • Growing Soil Carbon • How to Baseline • Emerging Markets • Carbon Farming Techniques • Benefits Beyond Credits Support the Soil Carbon Movement Hard Copy : $95 + $9.95 P&H 5+ copies $35 ea. (+P&H) CALL 02 6374 0329 (Every cent goes towards the Carbon Coalition’s Soil Carbon Campaign) LIMITED EDITION

URGENT! DVD ON SALE NOW! The world needs Carbon Farmers to feed it and help restore the landscape and to help reduce the pace of Climate Change. We need your help. Every time you spend money with Carbon Farmers of Australia you are contributing to the outreach, lobbying and policy work of the Carbon Coalition.* (See carboncoalitionoz.blogspot.com) Support the Carbon Coalition * “You single-handedly barnstormed the issue onto the National agenda.” - Matt Cawood, The Land * “I believe that they [the Convenors of the Carbon Coalition] should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.” - Andre Leu, Chairman, Organics Federation of Australia

CARBON FARMERS OF AUSTRALIA ORDER FORM # Copies ( *5+ copies 20% off ) DVD 2008 Carbon Farming Conference $165 (+P&H) [……] Audio/CD 2008 Carbon Farming Conference $95 (+P&H) [……] The Carbon Farming Handbook $55 (+P&H) [……] Donation $5,000 $1,000 $500 $……….. POSTAGE & HANDLING $9.90 for first item. Add $1.00 per extra item. CONTACT DETAILS: TITLE: DR, MR, MRS, MS,OTHER ……………………..……………..….. (Please circle) (Please specify) NAME: …………………………………………………………………………. ORGANISATION (If applicable) …………………………………………….. ADDRESS: …………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………. POST CODE ………………………. TELEPHONE …………………………… FAX ………………………………. EMAIL …………………………………………………………………………… PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD Please debit my credit card with the amount showing on this form: Name on credit card: ……………………………………………………………………………… Credit Card Number ……………………………………… Expiry date: ………………………. Amount paid $……………………………………………… Signature …………………………. Please make cheques/money orders payable to Carbon Farmers of Australia Please forward orders to Carbon Farmers of Australia CAN 127011134 “ Uamby” via Goolma NSW 2852 Telephone (02) 6374 0329 FAX (02) 6374 0354 Email: louisa@carboncoalition.com.au Support the Soil Carbon Movement Thank you, Your contribution will allow the Coalition to continue the work of raising awareness among politicians and city people of the powerful opportunity that Soil Carbon offers us all to avoid the worst effects of climate change, to restore health to the farm landscapes, to give new hope to rural communities, and a new future to families on the land. We couldn’t do it without you. Michael Kiely

Parallel Universes or Universes in Collision?

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Parallel Universes or Universes in Collision?