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A REGIONAL APPROACH TO CARBON

The Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC) have developed one of the first non-government, regionally focused Carbon Strategies. Our goal? To cut through the confusion, provide clear guidance, and help producers determine if and when to start their carbon journey.​

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​​​SOUTHERN FORESTS REGIONAL CARBON STRATEGY

The SFFC is a pivotal organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and fostering a thriving community in the Southern Forests region. Comprised of local farmers, producers, and community leaders, the SFFC works collaboratively to enhance the quality and sustainability of food production in the area. The Southern Forests region is renowned for its world-class produce, playing a vital role in the economic and social fabric of the Shire of Manjimup, the Western Australian State, and Australia as a whole.

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A central initiative of the SFFC is our Southern Forests Carbon Strategy and is designed to assist efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability across multiple sectors of our region. From 2024 to 2025, with the support of key regional, state, and federal stakeholders, the SFFC aims to be recognised as a leader in assisting the region in its carbon reduction efforts, sharing our knowledge and practices both nationally and internationally to help and learn from others. To achieve this, we will form strategic alliances with regional producers, the Shire of Manjimup, the Western Australian State Government, and the Federal Government as well as the wholesalers and retailers in the supply chain. These partnerships will be crucial in securing funding and advancing our carbon strategy, ensuring widespread impact and long-term success.

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SOUTHERN FORESTS CARBON PILOT 

SFFC completed the first Southern Forests Carbon Pilot in 2025, working with seven local farms to establish on-farm carbon baselines and better understand emissions across mixed horticulture enterprises.

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Participants learned how to use the PICCC Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF) calculator to produce a set of farm emission accounts, identified key emissions sources, and explored practical strategies to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. The pilot also gave growers the opportunity to share real feedback on the complexity and cost of carbon reporting, which has been passed on to relevant industry and government stakeholders.

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We are pleased to announce that additional funding has been secured through the South West WA Drought Resilience and Adoption Hub for a second round of the pilot, with Expressions of Interest now open. The program will run between late May and late June 2026 and will again be fully funded for participating growers.

SEEKING EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The SFFC is looking to engage 7-10 young growers in a fully funded, practical carbon literacy and baseline program targeting mixed horticulture and livestock enterprises in the Southern Forests region.

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Building on the success of the inaugural pilot delivered in 2025, this round will focus on equipping emerging producers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to understand their farm emissions profile and proactively respond to evolving compliance, market and climate expectations.

 

Why Participate?

By joining this pilot, producers will:

  • Gain valuable insights into your GHG emissions and carbon footprint.

  • Have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of a national carbon calculator relevant for producers in our region.

  • Gain insights into how factors like your budget, the season, climate, herd size, and crop type influence your carbon emissions.

  • Contribute to the development of region-wide carbon management tools.

  • Identify areas of high emissions for individual producers and potentially the region.

  • Share knowledge about innovative farming practices while building resilience to climate challenges.

  • Support a sustainable future for the Southern Forests region.

  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: This pilot is designed as a collaborative process, allowing producers to share knowledge, insights, and ideas. Feedback from participants will assist the SFFC in identifying carbon-related issues that can be presented to Local, State, and Federal representatives for action.

 

Who Can Apply?

We are seeking up to 10 producers from the Southern Forests region to participate in this initiative, this includes participants from Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Manjimup, Nannup, Northcliffe, Pemberton and Walpole.

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If you are interested in being part of this pilot, we encourage you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). For more information or to apply, please contact Laura Bolitho, General Manager, Southern Forests Food Council at (08) 9772 4180 or laura@southernforestsfood.com.

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SFFC Membership

Preference for participating in the pilot will be given to SFFC and Southern Forests Young Growers (SFYG) members. If you are not yet a SFFC or SFYG member but would like to participate in this pilot, you can become a member by contacting us.

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Program Structure

The program will be delivered between late May and late June 2026, with all activities completed by 30 June 2026 in line with funding requirements.

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Delivery will include:

  • An Expression of Interest (EOI) process to select 7-10 young growers

  • Two in-person workshops

  • Consultant support outside of workshops

  • Establishment of a farm-level carbon account

  • Identification of practical emissions-reduction and resilience strategies

  • Structured peer learning and discussion

 

Participants will learn to use the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC) Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF) calculator, which aligns with Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and is widely recognised across the sector.

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Each participant will receive:

  • Hands-on training in the PICCC GAF calculator

  • A verified farm-level carbon baseline

  • Identification of key emission drivers within their enterprise

  • Practical reduction and efficiency strategies

  • Guidance from experienced carbon consultants

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DOWNLOAD SFFC CARBON PILOT EOI OVERVIEW.
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SFFC CARBON PILOT ROUND 2 2026  EOI FORM

To register your interest, please contact Laura Bolitho, General Manager, Southern Forests Food Council at (08) 9772 4180 or laura@southernforestsfood.com.

The Southern Forests Carbon Strategy Pilot Project is supported by the

Australian Government's Future Drought Fund

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