Is Tracking Carbon on Farm Good for Business?
"Farmers are already doing so many things that reduce emissions—often because they’re just good business. But if we track what’s working and share that knowledge, we can turn sustainability into profitability. Carbon isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a business tool."
A Queensland farmer is bringing international insights home to support Australian producers navigating carbon farming and emissions tracking—transforming climate ambition into business opportunity.
Pippa Jones, 2024 Nuffield Scholar and advisor with NSW Local Land Services, travelled across Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Asia to investigate whether tracking and reducing carbon emissions can help build more productive, profitable and resilient farms. Supported by PSP Investments, her research spans real-world examples of carbon markets, emissions monitoring, and supply chain engagement, asking the fundamental question: does it stack up on-farm?
“Increasingly, supply chains are asking producers to provide emissions data. For some, that feels like red tape. But when you understand your carbon footprint, you can actually uncover hidden inefficiencies—and unlock opportunities,” Pippa explains.
Her global research journey included visits to large-scale cattle stations in Montana, rice farms in Vietnam, mixed farms in England, and cropping operations in Canada. Pippa explored two main carbon pathways available to producers: engaging in formal carbon markets (such as Australia's ACCU scheme), and measuring and managing a farm’s own carbon footprint.
Pippa says carbon tracking is often misunderstood as being at odds with productivity—but the opposite can be true.
“Reducing emissions and building soil carbon doesn’t have to hurt the bottom line. In fact, when done properly, it can drive profitability. Practices like rotational grazing, fertiliser efficiency, and precision agriculture not only reduce emissions but also cut costs and increase yields,” she says.
Inspecting rotational grazing on a cattle property, Uruguay.
Pippa also cautions that carbon markets aren’t a silver bullet. “There are risks—particularly around entering long-term agreements without full understanding. Farmers need trustworthy advice and support to assess what’s right for their enterprise.”
She urges policymakers and supply chain players to recognise farmers’ current efforts and provide accessible, region-specific data to reduce the burden of individual farm reporting. “If the industry can work together to make emissions tracking easy, transparent and rewarding, then we’ll see widespread, voluntary engagement.”
Pippa’s full report, Is Tracking Carbon on Farm Good for Business?, is now available on the Nuffield Australia website. She will present her findings at the 2025 Nuffield National Conference in Adelaide this September.
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