Restoring Australia’s farm dams could slash emissions, improve water quality, boost livestock productivity, and enhance biodiversity – all at low cost.

Hardly a minute goes by in Australian politics, business, the environment sector, and increasingly among the general public, without discussion about achieving net zero by 2050. Yet one major source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions has been largely overlooked. Fortunately, there are straightforward ways to reduce these emissions while also boosting agricultural production and improving drought resilience and biodiversity.

This problem – and opportunity – lies in the millions of poorly managed farm dams across the country. The benefits of restoring dams are well supported by substantial research and can be achieved through a new financing model that imposes no added financial burden on farmers.

Consider the following scenario. On a hot summer day, a farmer drives a couple, visiting from the city, to a farm dam. The water is dirty – fouled by livestock urine and faeces. The farmer says, “let’s have a drink." The woman responds, unamused “this water is not drinkable!” Her........

© Pearls and Irritations