Publication Date

10-2025

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

978-1-925415-19-3 (Online)

Abstract

This report presents the findings of a comprehensive carbon accounting study conducted on carrot production in the Myalup area of Western Australia.

The study reveals that carrot emissions are approximately 81 kg CO2e per tonne of carrot sold from the April harvest and 76 kg CO2e per tonne from the October harvest, when using rejected carrots for other economic uses. These figures represent competitive emissions intensities compared to international benchmarks.

Key findings include:

  • Yield improvement is the primary driver for emissions reduction: Increasing productivity, without proportional input increases, offers the most effective pathway to lower emissions’ intensity while improving economic returns.
  • Economic use of rejected carrots significantly reduces emissions: When rejected carrots are utilised for animal feed or juice production (a common practice among WA producers), emissions intensity decreases by approximately 14%.
  • Nitrate-based fertilisers outperform urea: The use of nitrate-based fertilisers, which is already common practice among growers, results in lower emissions compared to urea-based alternatives.
  • Waste management through composting: Implementing composting for organic waste reduces emissions by approximately 57% compared to landfill disposal.
  • Renewable energy adoption: Transitioning to renewable energy for irrigation can reduce emissions by 17-27%.

The Western Australian carrot industry demonstrates competitive carbon performance compared to international producers, with opportunities for further improvement through yield optimisation and continued adoption of sustainable practices.

Number of Pages

9

Keywords

carbon accounting, carrots, Myalup, Western Australia, emissions

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Horticulture

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