First NZ Soil Carbon Conference

The first NZ Soil Carbon Conference is to be held in Hawke's Bay in June. Held over three days, the NZ Soil Carbon Conference will focus on the reality of climate change, biological farming and the huge opportunity the soil carbon market presents for New Zealand. International and national key note speakers have been secured including world renowned scientists and Louisa Kiely, convenors of the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming in Australia.
The programme will also feature case studies presented by successful New Zealand biological/carbon farmers, local and central government perspectives, the stock exhange views. The Conference will also present a practical focus for growers on how to grow carbon and two optional field trips are planned for the last day of the Conference.
Master of Ceremonies: Brent Clothier, Science Leader, NZ Plant & Food Research

Day One
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
8.15am Delegates' registration at the Napier War Memorial Centre
8.45am Welcome to the NZ Soil Carbon Conference
9.00am The Global Food Crisis and Soil Carbon. Why the world needs Carbon Farmers: A Message from Professor Rattan Lal (Videolink) - Soil is the beginning of the food chain. Without it, we cannot feed the world.
9.20am Climate Change Reality - Dr David Wratt, Chief Scientist at NIWA
9.50am The ability of NZ soils to store carbon & the carbon cycle - Brent Clothier, Science Leader, NZ Plant & Food Research
10.20am Morning tea
11.00am Carbon Farming: the big picture - Louisa Kiely, Carbon Farmers of Australia. NSW rural woman of the year 2008
11.30am Policy constraints to carbon trading - Blair McClinton, executive manager of Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association
12.00pm The carbon opportunity - Paul Smith
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm Teaming with microbes - Nicole Masters
2.00pm Visual indicators for assessing the potential for carbon sequestration & GHG's - Graham Shepherd
2.30pm Paper: The importance of soil porosity - Dr Markus Deurer
2.45pm Afternoon tea
3.30pm Papatuankuku, Whenua, Oneone Nga Whanaunga The earth, the land the soil and their relationship - Percy Tipene, Chairman Te Waka Kai Ora
4.00pm Case Study: Microbial indicators and Carbon testing in the Waikato. Robin Janson, EcoSynergy Group
4.30pm Case Study: Growing milk and soil carbon - Hamish Galloway
4.45pm Case Study: Growing kiwifruit biologically - Tim Oliver
5.00pm Close of Day One.

Day Two
Wednesday 24th June 2009
8.30am Delegates gather at the War Memorial Centre
8.40am Welcome
8.50am The NZ farmer and the politics of the ETS - Max Purnell
9.15am Carbon measurement
9.45am The mechanics of trading: lessons from Canada - Blair McClinton
10.15am Morning tea
10.45am Carbon footprinting: Professor Caroline Saunders, Director of Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, Lincoln University
11.15am Carbon and the stockmarket: Joanna Silver
11.45am Panel Discussion: question and answers from the speakers
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm Paper: "The effects of Management in Three Primary Sectors on Soil Organic Matter and Structure". Peter Carey, Land Research Services
2.00pm Methods for increasing soil carbon - Frank van Steensel MSc
2.30pm Cover cropping and compost - Steve Erickson
3.00pm Afternoon tea
3.45pm Growing beef nutritionally - Ewan Campbell
4.15pm The future of farming - Dr Jon Tanner
4.45pm Soils for optimum wine production
5.00pm Finish
6.30pm Gala Dinner in the ballroom of the War Memorial Centre (optional) with keynote speaker Michael Kiely.

Day Three (Optional)
Thursday 25th June 2009
8.30am Strategy Meeting (Breakout Room 1 at the War Memorial Centre) until approximately 11am.
11.30am Field Trip A: Dairy trip to Onga Onga.
Cost $55 including lunch.
A bus visit to two successful biological diary blocks building soil carbon and nutrition. Delegates will be returned to the War Memorial Centre at approximately 5.00pm
11.30am Field Trip B: Pipfruit & Viticulture trip to Havelock North & Omahu.
Cost $55 including lunch.
A bus visit to a biologically managed organic apple block that is focused on building soil health. This will be followed by a trip to a conventional vineyard incorporating the biological approach with great results. Delegates will be returned to the War Memorial Centre at approximately 5.00pm.Delegates will be returned to the War Memorial Centre at approximately 5.00pm.

www soilcarbonconference.co.nz