The Australian government approved the sale of a 22,000-hectare Tasmanian cattle farm to a British firm, Gresham House, backed by $69 million in public funds from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The project plans to combine softwood plantations, conservation, and sustainable grazing to generate carbon credits. Critics argue it sacrifices prime agricultural land for foreign offset schemes. The Coalition and local farming groups say the deal undermines Australian food security and locks out local bidders. Supporters point to 190 new jobs and five million tonnes of timber over the project's life. The debate highlights the tension between using agricultural land for carbon sequestration and maintaining domestic food production capacity.
