Insetting Opportunities for the Ag-sector
Updated: 13 February 2026
Key implications for insetting:
- For operations wishing to undertake property-based carbon accounting and apply LULUC emission to their product carbon footprints, accurate calculations of large-scale vegetation carbon changes is an important step.
- Integrity Ag has developed two key insetting guidelines that covers vegetation insetting, and employs cost-efficient reporting methods based on your need.
- Extra value can be derived from such projects, including the ability to tap into external co-benefit markets and grants focused on the preservation of natural capital.
Insetting is the compliant reporting of removals within a carbon account, rather than purchasing external offsets. Opportunities for insetting in the agriculture sector centre on the ability for producers and supply‑chain companies to recognise vegetation‑based carbon removals occurring within their own operational boundaries – this can save money and also recognise the hard work producers undertake to restore native vegetation through regeneration or environmental plantings.
Across multiple projects, Integrity Ag has developed substantial technical experience in operationalising insetting. Our work includes drafting the Climate-active compliant tree‑planting insetting guidelines and the GHG Protocol compliant Regeneration Insetting Method, adapting core elements of the CFI Human‑Induced Regeneration framework—to suit insetting rather than crediting. These regeneration guidelines ensure that land‑based removals are verified conservatively, transparently aligned with GHG Protocol land‑sector guidance, and fit for use in organisational carbon accounts.
Extra benefit can be gleaned during insetting assessment, such as environment or production-related co-benefits, which extend value beyond a property’s carbon account and provide the opportunity to participate in nature-related markets that reward restoration.
Land use, land use change (LULUC) emissions and removals accounting
Updated: 13 February 2026
Land use and land use change (LULUC) emissions and removals are one of the most complex areas of agricultural carbon accounting. Yet recent results from our work across beef and sheep systems show this land sector impact is too significant to ignore.
With the release of the new GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals (LSR) Standard, alongside emerging Australian guidance and rapid advances in vegetation and soil carbon measurement, clarity is finally emerging.
As we move into 2026, this creates both new obligations and genuine opportunities for landholders and ag businesses to better understand their net carbon position, unlock insetting value, and prepare for evolving reporting and market expectations.
At Integrity Ag, we support this journey end-to-end, from “back-of-envelope” calculations through to third party audited carbon accounts and ACCU projects. We believe the latest breakthroughs in land‑sector accounting will deliver meaningful benefits to your business.
Four insights for the start of 2026:
1. Removals accounting (insetting) is an opportunity to harness now:
For too long agricultural carbon accounting rules have shied away from reporting removals because we lack the verification capabilities. We now have the tools and systems to break through this. Depending on the purpose, there can be substantial rewards, costs and risks. Vegetation is more advanced than soil (see below) and we see large opportunities particularly in northern and western pastoral zone regions for native regeneration. Harnessing the insetting opportunity requires a clear and robust process to i) Quantify removals on your land-holding, ii) select the right pathway to create a benefit to your business, and iii) execute in a way that manages costs, harnesses the opportunity, and limits your risks. We have always believed that carbon removals, whether as an inset or an offset, are a key asset belonging to your business. But unless you crystalise the opportunity, it will pass you by. If you’re interested, reach out to discuss how to take the first steps.
2. LULUC emissions accounting:
Many carbon accounts are incomplete because they lack LULUC emissions accounting. When completing audited carbon accounts, this is not going to be accepted in the future. Naturally, most land-holders are excited about the removals that may occur in soil or trees but there can be emissions also and you’re better off knowing both the positive and negatives; in other words the net position. There are key requirements in LULUC accounting that differ from other emission sources; the main one is the accounting time span. LULUC impacts occur over multiple years or decades, from a single event. GHG Protocol requires that emissions are accounted over the 20 prior years using what is termed “linear discounting”. It’s an accounting simplification and it’s not ideal, but it’s the requirement for all audit-based and SBTi customer reporting. We’ve invested intensively over the last three years to build capability to do this accounting with three levels of service provision. We have entry level automated services, desktop verified services, and field verified services undertaken by our Principal ecologist. This allows you to start the journey at low cost, while having the confidence that where large scale emissions or removals are identified they can be verified.
3. Advances in soil carbon:
The first round of soil carbon projects registered are starting to pass through their second sampling round, resulting in interesting new data emerging across the industry. Some large soil carbon sequestration events have been measured but these also come on the back of a run of very good rainfall years right after a record drought (remember 2018!). That said, there are reliable opportunities with the right combination of historical management and practice change. If you’re running an ACCU Scheme project, we remind you at the start of this year to check the record and sampling requirements to plan in advance. If you are using manure to help build carbon, remember you can’t land-apply manure for two years prior to a soil sampling event. Reach out if you would like further info on starting an ACCU project or advancing the project you have.
4. New tech for soil carbon measurement:
At Integrity Ag, we’re backing soil carbon improvements through best-practice pasture development, but we recognise measuring change is a key limitation. We’re actively working on breakthrough technology with Agrimix Flux which we believe can deliver better outcomes than soil sampling alone through real-time measurement and advanced modelling. We’re tipping the end of 2026 as a time for these new technologies to come into their own and we are now collaborating with the Agrimix team to implement and verify the technology.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
Updated: 23 January 2026
On 27 November 2025, the Commonwealth Government passed 7 amendment bills to the EPBC Act. These reforms significantly reduce the previous exemptions for agricultural-related clearing and introduce a stronger national approach to environmental regulation.
A new National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) will be established to regulate the EPBC Act and ensure national consistency. As a result, landholder obligations may now extend beyond existing State-based requirements.
According to updates from DCCEEW, the changes introduce significant new considerations for ag businesses seeking to clear native vegetation (e.g. mature regrowth, fodder harvesting and/or thinning permits or similar activities).
What landholders should do before clearing
Before undertaking any clearing, landholders should:
- Check if any exemptions to the EPBC Act apply.
- Determine the age of the vegetation.
- Assess whether the proposed clearing is likely to have a significant environmental impact.
- Refer the action to the Commonwealth, if the clearing is likely to be significant.
Contact Integrity Ag for further compliance or assessment if you are unsure – our trained staff have undertaken similar assessments for vegetation over 15 years old and have the tools to undertake this work cost-effectively.
Further information
ACCU Scheme Integrated Farm and Land Management (IFLM) method
Updated: 23 January 2026
On 22 December 2025, the Commonwealth Government released an updated draft IFLM method under the ACCU Scheme. A 28-day consultation period will formally begin on the 27 January 2026, with public webinars to be announced before consultation closes on 23 February 2026.
For the past two years, development of new or renewed land sector methods under the ACCU Scheme have largely stalled. The sunsetting of methods such as HIR, NFMR and BHM has limited carbon farming opportunities for graziers. The IFLM method was expected to address this gap by allowing multiple activities to occur within a single project area and offering a more cost-effective structure for smaller landholders. However, delays finalising the IFLM method, which is promised to bring all land-sector methods into one, have resulted in reduced project registrations and fewer viable carbon farming options during this period.
The updated IFLM method will present a viable replacement for the HIR method, offering options for both forest regeneration and plantings , and enabling landholders to generate value from regrowth.
Proposed IFLM modules
The draft method includes three broad activity categories (modules):
- Regeneration on cleared land: based on the previous regrowth method.
- Regeneration on suppressed: based on the HIR method.
- Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings: based on the EPM.
Key points
- Soil carbon, beef herd and avoided-emission activities are not included in the draft IFLM method.
- The draft does not permit stacking of multiple methods in the same Carbon Estimation Area (CEA), which was part of earlier drafts
- Multiple activities are allowed on separate areas in a single project.
The team at Integrity Ag have reviewed the method and can undertake preliminary assessment where required (e.g. due diligence for potential property sales).
In parallel with this, the QLD government has submitted a draft Avoided Clearing method, which offers significant opportunities for landholders wishing to retain mature regrowth that is currently able to be cleared. Consultation materials are available here:
NSW native veg clearing and land development
Updated: 23 January 2026
The statewide draft Native Vegetation Regulatory (NVR) map is now available for landholder review. Normally open for 40 days, the draft map includes previously mapped sensitive and vulnerable categories, and now incorporates 2 additional categories:
- Category 1 (exempt).
- Category 2 (regulated).
The NVR map is not yet legally binding; however, the transitional map, which includes legally binding Category 2-vulnerable and sensitive areas, remains in force.
The inclusion of Category 2 areas represents a significant expansion of land subject to regulation under the Local Land Services Act. This has important implications for:
- grasslands management,
- vegetation clearing activities, and
- the conversion of native pastures to cropping, improved pasture systems, or other land development activities.
These regulatory changes may substantially restrict vegetation clearing and land development options for some landholders.
Landholders may request a free map review during the draft phase before a final map is published. Guidance from the Department and Local Land Services (LLS) can be unclear, and field verification of mapped values is required as part of the permitting process.
The draft map and details are available here.
Integrity Ag has experience working with LLS on this process and can provide:
- preliminary desktop advice,
- field-based clearing applications for landholders planning agricultural land development in NSW, and
- negotiations with LLS to clarify excepted practices.