News

While climate change poses considerable challenges for Australian agriculture, it also offers exciting new opportunities for our innovative farmers.

The growing, global push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is opening the door for renewable energies. And, according to Murdoch University’s Mark McHenry, Aussie farmers are well placed to take advantage.

Mark is researching the options available to Western Australian farmers to become involved in new energies and carbon markets.

“Australia’s rural areas have abundant access to renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, agricultural waste and residues, forest by-products and other hydrological options,” he said.

“There’s even potential for farmers to sell the excess energy they produce on their own farm; generating a new market, not only in energy trading, but also in value-adding products traditionally considered as waste.”

The problem for the farmers, however, is the difficulty getting hold of quality information on the type of energy or carbon market best suited to their business.

With his award, Mark will collect wind energy data in Western Australia’s south-west to complement existing solar, rainfall, temperature, biomass growth and natural resource data.

“I will use this data to assess the financial viability and applicability of integrating wind, solar and biomass technologies into local agricultural production systems,” he said.

“Through the integration of agricultural production and appropriate renewable energy technologies the agricultural sector can attract new investment and income streams.”