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08/10/2025
The Mulligan family, Priya, Jonathan, Jessica and Kathryn all attended the workshop.
Overwhelmed by the “avalanche of advice” centred around reducing on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Mallawa’s Kathryn Mulligan admits it’s a space she’s found confusing.
“There’s carbon above ground, carbon below ground, and as cotton growers, I know we can work with Landcare and retail brands to offset emissions, but who then receives the credits?”
“We’d love to contribute to more green spaces on our property, but how do we do so in a way that’s meaningful?”
These are just some of the questions raised at a Rabobank Farm Emissions Calculator Workshop held in Rowena, North West NSW, recently.
With Rabobank currently partnering with Ruminati, creators of an online emissions calculator, the workshops provide clients with support to calculate their farm’s emissions and produce a customised reduction plan.
Kathryn attended the workshop with husband Jonathan and their daughters Priya and Jessica, and said she found the exercise extremely valuable.
“Having that one-on-one approach certainly eased many of my concerns, and the conversation is now far less confronting and scary, in fact tracking our farm emissions is actually very doable.”
Jonathan agreed, and acknowledged that much of the emissions reporting requirements are becoming standard practice.
“We had very little idea of what we should be tracking, what was expected of us as cotton producers, and whether any of it was even achievable,” Jonathan explains.
“From this workshop I can now see it is achievable, and we found the calculator very user-friendly.”
“Information such as how much fuel we use in a field is usually calculated in our head, and it’s data we should be formally tracking regardless.”
Rabobank Sustainability Facilitator, Allister Clarke delivered the workshop, clarifying Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for clients, and providing insights into the current global and corporate targets, and how that may impact farmers.
Rabobank Moree Area Manager Felicity Taylor, and Sustainability Facilitator Allister Clarke at the Rowena Pub, where the workshop was held.
Ruminati’s Bill Findlay then ran through the calculator with the Mulligans, helping to create and demonstrate their farm emissions profile to start developing a customised emissions reduction plan.
However Jonathan acknowledged that questions remain.
“I’m still a little confused regarding counting things twice, for example if we choose to process at a gin that harnesses solar power, do we also receive the benefit – you can’t double dip across the supply chain? This is the detail we’ll be exploring further.”
As potential next-gen farmers, Jessica and Priya both found the workshop engaging, and the opportunities, exciting.
Jessica, 21, is currently studying a Bachelor of Agronomy at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, and is confident her path lies in agriculture.
“As I learn more about our farm business, I think knowledge around its emissions go hand-in-hand, and having that understanding is really empowering.”
“Whether we like it or not, there is going to be an expectation set on Australian farmers – it’s starting to happen globally and we won’t be far behind, so we need to be more accountable.”
Jess Mulligan is passionate about a future in agriculture.
Priya, 24, is a recent maths graduate of the University of Queensland, and with her penchant for figures, measuring and lowering emissions is an inspiring proposition.
“I think it’s very exciting to see where you can create opportunities,” she smiles. "In some cases increasing fertiliser and aiming for higher yields could potentially lower emissions intensity through lower CO2-e per tonne of grain. In other cases, the dynamics will be different.”
“It’s about finding the niche balance that benefits production and the environment for the most efficient outcome with the resources available.”
The family discussed the various opportunities and challenges surrounding the farm emissions conversation.
Within their own operation, the Mulligans are now considering their emission reduction options, although acknowledge that thanks to the cotton industry’s strides in chemical and water use efficiency, there are fewer levers to pull.
“We could work our gin trash – which is the ginning byproduct - back into our soil, however it’s known to cause disease, and applying livestock waste as a natural soil fertiliser could be negated by transport emissions, yet these options are continually evolving and progressing,” Jonathan ponders.
“I think for now, this workshop has given us the confidence to start looking at ways we can lower our GHG emissions, and we will certainly keep track of key information points better – which we should be doing anyway.”
Jonathan Mulligan is curious to continue future proofing the family cotton operation.
Rabobank’s hands-on approach filling the knowledge gap
As a bank dedicated exclusively to agriculture, Moree Area Manager Felicity Taylor said she was equally engaged in the conversation, with the workshop adding to her own knowledge, and how she can help support clients such as the Mulligans.
“This is an evolving space and regularly taking the time to make sure we are up-to-date on global and local developments is key to staying ahead of the curve,” Felicity says.
“A knowledge gap exists across the industry around carbon’s role as an asset to your business, without necessarily selling off ACCUs. Anytime we can get together to learn side-by-side with our clients is invaluable.”
“There is an inevitable imperative for agriculture to start working towards lower emissions production systems, with most supply chains targeting this by 2030,” she says. “While many farmers are aware of the imperative, some are unaware of what their options are to move forward.”
“Undertaking these workshops on the ground in places like Rowena means our clients can work through nuances specific to their business, to help put them on the front foot for a profitable and resilient future.”
Ruminati’s Bill Findlay running through a number of scenarios with the Mulligan family.