Measuring Grain Farm Emissions in Australian Agriculture

Climate change and carbon emissions are no longer policy or science; they’re closely related to how we produce our food. Grain farming in Australia is a key driver of both national food security and overseas markets. But how does the industry compare environmentally?

In this blog, we will discuss how Australian grain farmers are tracking their emissions, why it’s important, and what tools and information define a more sustainable future of agriculture

Why Measure Emissions in Grain Farming?

Australian grain producers produce some of the lowest emissions per tonne of grain globally. That competitive edge is gaining value in trade markets where sustainability credentials are required, like Europe’s canola market.

As stated by the Australian Government and CSIRO, through emissions measurement, farmers can:

• Benchmark their environmental performance.
• Save on input costs through effective practices.
• Access carbon markets and sustainable finance.
• Maintain compliance with future regulatory standards.
• Tell a more effective sustainability story to international consumers.

Grain emissions come mainly from nitrous oxide (N₂O) due to the use of fertiliser, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the on-farm diesel consumption. In contrast to livestock, methane (CH₄) emissions are negligible in cropping systems.

What Farmers Measure?

Emissions are generally quantified as emissions intensity, that is, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per production unit, for instance, kilograms of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) per tonne of grain.

Main Sources of Emissions:

On-Farm Emissions

• Fuel consumption (tractors, harvesters)
• Nitrogen fertilisers
• Soil emissions from farming practices

Off-Farm Emissions (Scope 3)

• Production and transport of inputs (e.g., production of fertiliser).
• Packaging, transportation, and downstream logistics.

According to CSIRO statistics, in 2005–06, grain production in Australia released approximately 315 kg CO₂e per tonne, amounting to 13.75 million tonnes of CO₂e, approximately 1.7% of the total emissions in Australia.

Tools & Frameworks Used in Australia

Several nationally built tools enable Australian farmers to measure and manage their emissions accurately.

Grains Greenhouse Accounting Framework (G-GAF)

• An initiative of the University of Melbourne’s Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
• It is concerned with grain-specific activity emissions.
• It is the foundation for most carbon calculators in existence today.

MLA Carbon Calculator

• A free calculator utilised by livestock and grain producers.
• Accounts for emissions from fuel, fertilisers, livestock, and electricity.

CSIRO Farm Print

• Model of greenhouse gas emissions from CSIRO for lifecycle analysis.
• Assists farmers in recognising environmental impacts throughout the entire supply chain.

FullCAM (Full Carbon Accounting Model)

• Utilised by Australia’s National Inventory to estimate land sector sequestration and emissions.
• Supports projects under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).

PLANR Tool

• A decision-making tool that also gives emissions information in addition to natural resource health.
  These tools utilise Australian-specific emissions factors, which enhance accuracy and applicability for local soil, climate, and farming systems.

These tools utilise Australian-specific emissions factors, which enhance accuracy and applicability for local soil, climate, and farming systems.

How Is the Sector Performing?

Australia’s grain sector continually has lower emissions intensity than many of its global equivalents. For example:

• Australian wheat, barley, and canola are among the lowest-emitting per tonne globally, as rated by ABARES and CSIRO.
• Better practices hold the potential to reduce emissions intensity by 15% by 2030, as estimated by GRDC.

This isn’t always a case of decreasing total emissions, but of producing more grain with lower emissions per tonne—an important point in climate-smart agriculture

Practices That Reduce Grain Emissions

Australian grain producers are already embracing new approaches to decrease emissions intensity

• Optimised nitrogen application: Precision reduces surplus N₂O emissions.
• No-till agriculture: Preserves soil structure and carbon sequestration.
• Crop rotations & cover crops: Enhance soil health and decrease fertiliser reliance.
• Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF): Sustains reduced soil compaction and diesel consumption.
• Electric and hybrid machinery: Lower on-farm CO₂ from diesel.

As per a Western Australian pilot conducted by DPIRD and CSIRO, shifting to carbon-neutral grain is economically viable and technically feasible in the long run.

Challenges in Measuring Emissions

Despite progress, several challenges continue:

• Data Gaps in Scope 3 Emissions: Input manufacturing and logistics emissions are more difficult to monitor.
• Tool Complexity: Calculators are too technical for many farmers to use without effective support.
• Standardisation: Since there are various tools, industry-wide standardised metrics are required.
• Policy Burden: From 2025, big business would need to report climate risks and emissions (including agriculture), raising concerns about red tape.

Farmers are demanding improved training, more user-friendly tools, and the formal recognition of carbon sequestration activities such as tree planting and improving soil carbon.

What’s Next for Australian Grain Farmers?

The future lies in enhancing measurement and mitigation alike. This involves:

• Refining national emissions factors for precision.
• Enabling farm-scale trials for emerging technologies.
• Incentivising carbon farming and paying for sustainable practices.
• Bundling emissions tracking into supply chain audits and export certification.

As markets around the world transition to low-carbon food systems, Australia’s grain industry is leading the way—not only in quantity, but in climate-smart quality.

Finally: Key Takeaways for New Readers

• Australia’s grain farmers already rank among the lowest emitters per tonne globally.
• FarmPrint, G-GAF, and FullCAM are among the tools that enable measuring emissions for farm activities.
• Emissions reductions are all about efficiency, not volume, more crop per kilo of CO₂e.
• There are still issues with scope 3 accounting and tool availability, but they are improving.
• Industry is committing to future-proof practices to achieve climate targets and meet market needs.

For detailed insights, contact us at KG2 Australia today!