TNQ Drought Hub
James Cook University Australia
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Practical carbon accounting workshop supports on-farm decision making.

Key takeaways

  • Using tools like the SB-GAF calculator, producers can turn emissions data into clear insights about their operation, helping inform day-to-day management and longer-term planning.
  • Working through real farm data helps identify the main sources of emissions across the business, making it easier to target changes that can improve efficiency and performance.
  • Applying tools directly to your own operation, combined with peer discussion, makes complex concepts easier to understand and more relevant to on-ground decisions.
  • TNQ Drought Hub ESG expert Dr Ana Leite de Almeida contributed through collaboration on the workshop series, helping deliver practical, producer-focused training that builds capability and supports more informed decision making across the region.

Producers in Mackay recently took part in a hands-on carbon accounting workshop delivered through a Reef Catchments Climate Smart Agriculture initiative, in collaboration with the TNQ Drought Hub.

The session is part of a broader series of workshops being delivered across the Reef Catchments region, designed to build producer understanding and confidence in carbon accounting and its role in farm business management.

Designed with a strong practical focus, the workshop aimed to help producers better understand how carbon accounting applies to their own operations and how it can inform everyday management decisions.

The session began with a clear introduction to key carbon accounting concepts, including how emissions are measured and reported within grazing systems. Producers were then introduced to the Sheep and Beef Greenhouse Gas Accounting Framework (SB-GAF calculator), a tool designed to help quantify on-farm emissions in a straightforward and accessible way.

Attendees working through the SB-GAF calculator with their own farm data

From there, the workshop shifted into an interactive format, with participants working through the calculator using their own farm data. This allowed each producer to generate an individual emissions profile, providing a clearer picture of where emissions are coming from across their operation.

Importantly, the workshop didn’t stop at the numbers. The final session focused on interpreting results and identifying practical opportunities for improvement. This included exploring options to reduce emissions, improve land condition and strengthen natural capital, as well as understanding where carbon projects may fit within a broader business strategy.

Workshop facilitator and ESG expert Ana Carla Leite De Almeida said the hands-on approach is key to building confidence and capability.

“When producers can apply carbon accounting to their own operation, it shifts from being a concept to something practical. It allows them to identify where changes can be made and how those decisions can support both productivity and sustainability.”

By applying real data to real farm scenarios, the workshop helped translate what can often be complex information into practical, actionable insights. It also created space for peer discussion, allowing producers to compare approaches, share experiences and learn from each other.

For many participants, the value was in building confidence, both in understanding carbon accounting and in using that knowledge to support future planning and decision making.

As carbon and sustainability considerations continue to shape the agricultural landscape, initiatives like this play an important role in ensuring producers have access to the tools, knowledge and support needed to respond in a way that makes sense for their business and region.

The Mackay workshop is one example of how collaboration between industry, research and regional partners is delivering practical outcomes on the ground, helping producers navigate change with greater clarity and confidence.