DOMESTIC OFFSETS INTEGRITY COMMITTEE
C/- DOIC Secretariat
GPO Box 854
CANBERRA ACT 2601
The Hon Yvette D'Ath MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Mrs D'Ath
The Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee has considered the following activity proposed
for inclusion on the positive list under the Carbon Farming Initiative:

Reduced nitrous oxide emissions through the use of organic, biological or
protein-nitrogen additives where the additives:
a. are raw, processed or manufactured; and
b. are applied separately, mixed with, or added to the land with inorganic or
synthetic fertiliser products.
The Committee considers that this proposed activity is not suitable for inclusion on the
positive list for the reasons provided in the Statement of Reasons.
Yours sincerely
AJ Press
A/g Chair
Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee
March 2013
STATEMENT OF REASONS
The Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee (DOIC) considers that the following activity
is not suitable for inclusion on the positive list for the reasons outlined below.
Reduced nitrous oxide emissions through the use of organic, biological or protein-nitrogen
additives where the additives:
a. are raw, processed or manufactured; and
b. are applied separately, or mixed with, or added to the land with, synthetic,
inorganic fertiliser products.
Organic, biological and protein nitrogen additives include chicken litter, sewage sludge,
animal manure, worm castings, compost, seaweed, guano, bone meal manures,
carbonaceous materials and extracts such as lignite and other humic and fulvic substances.
Synthetic, inorganic fertiliser products include superphosphate and urea.
Processed and manufactured additives include treated biosolids and composted,
pelletised and granulated products.
Raw additives include uncomposted manure, crop wastes, green waste etc.
Background
This activity involves the application of a diverse range of organic fertilisers to soil and is
based on several related proposals from stakeholders. The activity aims to reduce nitrous
oxide emissions through the use of organic fertilisers in place of synthetic, inorganic
fertiliser products.
Reasons for advice
Nitrous oxide emissions are affected by different fertiliser application and management
practices, soil types and environmental factors such as climate and rainfall. Given this range
of factors and the different properties of different types of organic fertilisers, it is not
possible to generalise about the abatement impact of using organic in place of synthetic
fertilisers.
There have been a number of recent trials overseas that quantified nitrous oxide emissions
from soils treated with various kinds of organic and synthetic fertilisers. The results from
these studies were varied and demonstrate that the type of fertiliser used is just one of
many factors that affect nitrous oxide emissions from soils.
Some studies showed that the application of organic fertilisers to certain types of soil under
certain environmental conditions can reduce nitrous oxide emissions relative to the
application of synthetic fertiliser that provide an equivalent amount of nitrogen. However,
these studies are insufficient to establish that nitrogen emissions fall if organic fertilisers are
used in place of synthetic fertiliser.
The DOIC considers that there is insufficient scientific evidence to determine the
environmental conditions and management practices in which the use of organic fertilisers
leads to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Should ongoing research confirm the abatement potential of one or more organic fertilisers,
the activity may be suitable for inclusion on the positive list in future if it is not in common
use in the industry.