Smith Carbon Project

The Smith Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at "Belhaven Brook Farm" in Glenarbon, approximately 55km east of Goondiwindi in southern Queensland. Registered in August 2020, the project covers 505 hectares in the Darling Downs region. The property is owned and operated by Sophie and Adrian McInnerney, who utilize the land for sheep farming, specifically running a flock of 800 Australian White ewes to produce lamb for their direct-to-consumer brand, Macintyre Brook Lamb.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models), having transitioned from the 2018 measurement-based method. This methodology credits landholders for increasing soil carbon stocks through management changes. It employs a hybrid approach that combines physical soil core sampling with modelled estimates to determine carbon abatement. To achieve these gains, the proponents have implemented multi-species pasture cropping and adopted rotational grazing strategies. These activities are supported by new infrastructure, including additional fencing and watering points, which allow for higher density grazing followed by adequate rest periods for pasture recovery.

Environmentally, the Glenarbon area receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 630mm. While the broader Goondiwindi region is famous for its heavy black self-mulching clays, this specific property is characterized by light sandy soils. These lighter soils presented a unique challenge for sequestration, yet the project successfully generated over 1,300 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) within its first three years. Notably, the project has undergone a Carbon Intensity Assessment by the proponent, AgriProve, which indicated the farm is operating beyond net-zero carbon intensity, sequestering more carbon annually than the farm emits.