A growing number of experts in Australia – and across the globe, are tooting the benefits of carbon and regenerative agriculture practices to help fight back against the big dry. 

The carbon solution – in very simple terms, goes like this. Carbon dioxide in the air is bad, but when it is brought into the ground it binds to the soil and allows it to hold a lot more water. 

For example, Australia studies have shown one hectare of land, with a reading of eight per cent carbon, could hold up to three average sized swimming pools of water. As the carbon percentage increases so does the soil’s water-holding capacity. 

A diverse range of plants in the soil allows large amounts of carbon to be transferred from the air to the ground. This process also helps to produce more nutrient-rich food.

It’s not just farms that can benefit from this.

Backyard growers, and even gardeners, can also use this method to create more drought-tolerant crops. 

Places at regenerative agriculture workshops across NSW are filling up quickly as the demand for solutions increases.

Forums that were once getting between 10 and 20 farmers are now seeing at least 100. 

Almost 200 farmers attended a Hunter Local Land Services regional forum on the topic last year and some are already having a go. 

Related: Gulgong farmer still has feed in his paddocks

A National Regenerative Agriculture Day – through the charity What Would Love Do Now, will be held for the first time on February 14 to help raise awareness about this type of farming and spark people to act.

The interest in regenerative practices cannot come quickly enough for Southern Cross University’s Director of Strategic Projects Lorraine Gordon – an Ebor beef farmer who founded the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance.

She uses regenerative methods on her farm instead of conventional agriculture and has seen the long-term benefits take hold. 

“We are in a situation of total chaos right now,” she said.

“This dry period is not going to go away, our farming practices have to change because otherwise we will end up with a dust bowl, and a desert.”

Ms Gordon said carbon was critical to soil health and without it there was only dead soil. 

“Once you build carbon you build your nutrient density, your micro-activity and everything else comes with it,” she said.