Lend the land a helping hand

Lancelin farmer Bob Wilson says agriculture has the potential to be part of the solution to climate change such as increasing soil carbon by using certain pasture systems. PHOTO: DANELLA BEVIS

Inaugural winner of the Green Innovators in Agriculture award and vice-president of the Evergreen Farming Group, Bob Wilson says agriculture has the potential to be part of the solution to climate change, not part of the problem.

Mr Wilson co-authored a number of submissions for the emissions trading scheme (ETS), and a submission into the Senate enquiry into climate change.

Bob has been involved with tagasaste since the mid 1980s and the sub-tropical perennial grass revolution in WA since the 1990s.

Interaction with the Department of Agriculture and trial work on his property showed he was increasing his soil carbon under his pasture systems, including tagasaste.

"We talk about agriculture being exempt but we are not out of it," Bob said.

"As soon as the ETS starts, it will affect our inputs, fuel, fertiliser, the lot. We believe soil carbon has the potential to be part of that solution."

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