Orana Farm Healthy Soils Project

Orana Farm Healthy Soils Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Wimmera region of Victoria, approximately 10km west of Rupanyup and 45km northeast of Horsham. Registered in May 2018, the project covers 3,501 hectares of "Orana Park," a larger 4,674-hectare aggregation managed by the Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund. The area is primarily utilized for dryland cropping (cereals, pulses, oilseeds) and sheep grazing, though the project has diversified operations significantly.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method allows the proponent to estimate soil carbon stocks using a hybrid approach of physical soil core sampling and validated computer modelling. This specific project transitioned from the 2018 measurement-only method to the 2021 method in March 2022, a common strategy to reduce the high costs associated with physical baselining. The project activities focus on "regenerative cropping," which includes the application of liquid bio-fertilizers (such as those from RegenAGE), converting to no-till practices to minimize soil disturbance, and retaining stubble to build organic matter.

The Wimmera region is characterized by a semi-arid to temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 440mm. The soil composition at the site largely consists of Grey Vertosols (cracking clays) and Sodosols. These heavy clay soils are naturally fertile but prone to sodicity; the project's inclusion of gypsum application is a targeted activity to remediate this soil structure, improving water infiltration and carbon storage capacity.

Beyond standard carbon farming, Orana Park serves as a flagship demonstration asset for Tiverton's "natural capital" investment strategy. Notably, the property includes a 1,000-hectare olive grove, which aligns with the "undertaking new irrigation" activity listed in the project design. Furthermore, the site hosts the "Orana Sanctuary," a 200-hectare predator-free safe haven established to protect threatened species such as the Bush stone-curlew and Eastern bettong. The project area has undergone variations in 2022 and 2025, likely refining the boundary to exclude non-agricultural zones like the sanctuary or infrastructure. Carbon West serves as the carbon project service provider.