Find the Australian Rural & Regional News interview with Marc Bezuidenhout of TASC Carbon Australia Pty Ltd below.
TASC Carbon Australia Pty Ltd provides opportunities under the Australian Carbon Credit Union (ACCU) Scheme and other applicable carbon standards.
TASC assesses (free of charge) each land holding, considering the outcomes of the landholder and the applicability of methodologies in view of potential ACCU (or other) financial forecasts. Following an initial desktop assessment project viability can be determined, and TASC, if requested by the landowner, will do further on ground observations and assessment. After such assessment, TASC may make a proposal to fund the set-up costs of a project depending on what type of methodology is chosen. i.e. all upfront baselining costs for Soil Carbon Projects, or the full cost of trees, site preparation and planting on environmental planting projects. TASC is able to do this for a percentage share of the projects ACCU’s, determined on a project-by-project basis.
This can include (after a project viability assessment) the cost of trees for environmental planting and ongoing land management regimes, or baselining costs for soil carbon.
- Farmer can be the project proponent and remain in control of the land.
- TASC will assist with the implementation and costs of ongoing management of the project, including registration, submission of offset reports, audits etc.
- Not all Australian agricultural land will be suitable to meet the requirements or economic feasibility for current Australian methods available from the Clean Energy Regulator. TASC – with experience of global standards in the voluntary carbon market – can assess as required to explore potential International methods to allow landowner participation in carbon markets.
Types of projects
Available methods to focus on within Australia that can result in the generating of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) or VERs include:
- Soil carbon;
- Environmental planting;
- Avoided clearing;
- Tidal restoration of coastal ecosystems;
- Savanna burning;
- IFLM – Integrated Farm Land Management (a new method currently under development); and
- VM0042 – Methodology for improved agricultural land management (Verra) or other International applicable standards (where Australian methods do not fit circumstances).
TASC is looking to collaborate with landowners to facilitate access to carbon project registration opportunities. We assess every property on its own unique set of attributes keeping landowner objectives central to the project type and management activities.
TASC is focused on:
- Creating healthy landscapes with more organic matter and improved nutrient and energy cycling; a well-functioning soil food web and ecosystem; and more ground cover and less erosion;
- Building drought resilience through increased moisture retention and less additional feed costs;
- Ecosystem processes and biodiversity outcomes; and
- Ensuring more resilient farming enterprises with potential additional carbon revenue stream and added market benefits through certification and productivity.
We are committed, as a signatory to the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, to a best practice approach to all that we do, working with integrity and transparency to ensure our projects climate ambition and Co2e emission claims are real and can be verified, and scrutinised.
Australian Rural & Regional News spoke with Marc Bezuidenhout,
Carbon Project Consultant for TASC Carbon Australia
ARR.News: TASC appears to be active mainly in Africa, when did TASC Carbon Australia Pty Ltd commence in Australia?
Marc Bezuidenhout: We are very active in Africa as one of the largest cookstove project developers. The cook stoves reduce wood use by 71 per cent and we distribute them for free (we hit one million stoves at Christmas) and we get our investment back through a carbon project that recognizes the reduced emissions and deforestation. We started in Australia about 2.5 years ago and are setting up cook stove projects in the Philippines and PNG. We registered the first ever soil carbon (regenerative cattle grazing) project under VM0042 (an international standard) in 2023 in Africa. This project stands at 399,000ha and is growing. Through this we have a lot of experience and knowledge in soil carbon grazing projects. Over the last 2.5 years we have been meeting compliance requirements to operate in Australia, and in the last month have become signatories under the CMI (carbon Market Institute) Code of Conduct and additionally, we now operate legally under an AFSL/carbon wholesale licence, so the push is on for Australian projects.
ARR.News: Do you have any projects established in Australia at the moment?
Marc Bezuidenhout: We have nine 50:50 J/V projects in WA under the now sunsetted HIR (Human Induced Regeneration) methodology. Methods by law sunset after 10 years in Australia. We are in the process of setting up two Environmental Planting projects in Queensland (where we are paying for all of the trees, site preparation, planting and follow up care/weed control). The EP method is sunsetting at the end of September, however, so time is short. There is a new method under development by the Clean Energy Regulator (IFLM, Integrated Farm Land Management) – commonly known as ‘method stacking – that will encompass these sunsetted methods. We also have a ‘hub’ of graziers in Queensland that we are working with at present on soil carbon projects, and a single grazier who is looking at an ‘Avoided Clearing’ project.
ARR.News: Do you focus on particular types of land, for example, cropping and pasture lands of South East Australia, or do you cover all types, such as the tropical zones in Far North Queensland?
Marc Bezuidenhout: We are really keen on soil carbon with graziers who are interested in sustainable, regenerative farming practices (like cell grazing, time managed grazing, adding legume species etc) that build soil carbon, drought resilience and beneficial soil microbes. We are also very keen on Environmental Planting projects, with an emphasis on farming remaining the primary business – i.e. not ‘locking up’ land for carbon projects. I am a farmer at heart and farming/soil and land improvement is a passion. We will look at projects on pasture or cropping land (reduced tillage or other improvements). If an area does not suit an Australian CER method, we can look at internationally recognised methods (Verra or Gold Standard are our preferred standards). We are also looking seriously into coastal/mangrove rehabilitation in Australia and SE Asia. In short, we will look at anything and if the carbon revenue is enough to make financial sense, we will consider funding the project. We are also interested in savanna burning projects. We will do assessments on peoples’ land free of charge.
ARR.News: How many people do you have based in Australia?
Marc Bezuidenhout: We have a team of four based in Australia, but a large team in Cape Town (and other African countries) with whom we share 2-3 weekly calls and there is a lot of co-operation between the teams. Costs are lower in South Africa, hence the directors’ decision to employ the bulk of the team in Africa and enable us to be very competitive. We will be increasing our Australian team, however.
ARR.News: How do you see the potential of the market here?
Marc Bezuidenhout: There is huge potential, and the general feeling is that there will be a shortage of credits to a point where the needs of the Safeguard Mechanism (compliance market) may not be met – let alone the voluntary market, where businesses and farmers are buying/producing credits to give them access to markets such as Europe.
ARR.News: Have Australian landowners been receptive to your ideas?
Marc Bezuidenhout: Yes, we are finding that our unique approach is refreshing for farmers. We allow farmers to be the project proponent (if they choose) and this gives them confidence that they remain in control of their land. This is not the norm. Our equally unique approach of paying for all project costs (depending on financial viability) such as baseline and subsequent soil testing for soil carbon projects; auditing; costs of trees etc on tree planting projects are all viewed really positively as these costs are a major barrier to entry in this industry.
ARR.News: Do you see a role for small family owned farms or are you aiming more at city based ‘Pitt Street farmers’ or corporate agribusinesses?
Marc Bezuidenhout: Both, however, if a farm is too small for our particular approach, we look to aggregate a group of farmers where possible. Because we pay for everything upfront, we do look for economies of scale. If a farm is too small to make financial sense on our model, there is nothing to stop the farmer doing it on their own armed with the knowledge they have gained from TASC. We don’t aim to tell people to change to regenerative farming practices, but many out there are doing it anyway. Everyone has heard of carbon projects, but some have no idea where to start. We aim to help with the process, the funding (so the farm cash flow can be concentrated on farming) and help manage the project. We do this all for a share of the credits (the bulk of which go to the landholder to do with as they please).
ARR.News: Do you have many competitors?
Marc Bezuidenhout: Yes, the Australian carbon farming industry is well developed and is competitive, but our approach is unique. Our directors started in the industry some 25 years ago – a company called Ice Cap – that when sold five years ago was the largest carbon trader in the world. The experience they bring to the table is vast, as is their access to markets.
ARR.News: Have you approached the farmer organisations?
Marc Bezuidenhout: We have spoken mainly with individuals who have been introduced through word of mouth, but we are open to this broader approach too.
ARR.News: Are Government entities interested in and supportive of your work?
Marc Bezuidenhout: Our main interaction is with the Clean Energy Regulator. We are adamant that carbon projects should enhance agriculture rather than hinder it.
For further information contact Marc Bezuidenhout: marc@tasc.je
