A new report released by the EU Commission has questioned the sustainability of first-generation biofuels, arguing that a full account of the energy and emissions associated with the production and use of the fuel shows that the cost of biofuels far exceeds their benefits, and would mean an effective carbon cost of between 100 and 300 euros for each tonne of greenhouse emission abatement achieved. View the rest of the post here

In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN published a report called Livestock's Long Shadow which concluded that emissions from livestock production make up 18% of global man-made greenhouse emissions, which is more significant that the emissions associated with fossil fuel use in transport. Despite the authors of that report subsequently admitting there was a major flaw in the methodology used, the 'number' has persisted, and continues to appear - even in papers recently published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. View the rest of the post here

There has been further discussion about the Henbury Station carbon farming project, under which the Australian and Northern Territory Governments are working with a commercial organisation to run a business that generates income from carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, the discussion has not helped to clarify some of the key questions associated with the project. View the rest of the post here

Amid all the debate currently underway about the US Farm Bill, the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, and a future food policy in Australia, there is frequent reference to the benefits of consuming food produced 'locally' or 'sustainably'. Exactly what these terms mean and why they might be a benefit is very unclear, and highlights how little objective data is available about these issues.  View the rest of the post here

The appointment of former NSW Premier Bob Carr to the Senate and the Foreign Minister role has generally been hailed by the media as a positive for the Australian Government, although there are many in regional NSW who are less than enamoured with the former Premier because of his management of native vegetation and regional issues generally in NSW. In what could be an interesting irony, the former Premier will be required to revisit those issues in his role as Foreign Minister, and to advocate a very different approach. View the rest of the post here

Over recent years there has be a sustained push to implement ecolabelling, in order to inform consumers of the environmental credentials of the food products they purchase, and presumably to influence those consumers not to buy environmentally bad products. But one of the major proponents of the ecolabelling push has decided to abandon its efforts, as realisation sinks in about how difficult and uncertain the calculations are in order to provide the data for labelling systems. View the rest of the post here

The exclusion of direct agricultural emissions from the Government's carbon policy has led some to believe that the impacts of the scheme on farm businesses will be minimal, but research and commentary over recent days has highlighted that the indirect costs of the policy on the farm sector will be quite significant. View the rest of the post here

The long awaited Productivity Commission report detailing what other nations are doing to reduce national greenhouse emissions was released yesterday, and it managed to provide comfort to all sides of the climate change argument, while completely ignoring the single policy measure adopted in Australia that has had most impact in reducing national emissions. View the rest of the post here

The Australian Government yesterday tabled legislation designed to implement the proposed Carbon Farming Initiative, but there is still a major unanswered question - "Who will buy CFI offsets, and at what price?" View the rest of the post here

Those involved in agriculture that profess to be confused about proposed Government carbon policies should not feel ignorant or isolated - it appears that no-one has any idea what the role of agriculture will be in future carbon policies. The Prime Minister, the Minister for Climate Change and the Governments climate policy adviser Ross Garnault all seem to be saying different things and sending different messages, much to the confusion of those involved in the industry. View the rest of the post here