Smith Carbon Project

Smith Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located at Bellhaven Brook Farm in Glenarbon, approximately 60km east of Goondiwindi in Queensland. It was registered in August 2020, covers 505.48 hectares, and is managed in partnership with the proponent, Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd.

Soil carbon projects under the 2021 Measurement and Models methodology involve storing carbon in agricultural soils by implementing new land management practices. Standard requirements include demonstrating a measured increase in soil carbon against a baseline through rigorous soil sampling and subsequent testing or modeling. Project activities here include altering the stocking rate and intensity of grazing, applying nutrients, and rejuvenating pastures by seeding. The project originally fell under the 2018 methodology before updating to the 2021 determination in April 2023.

The Darling Downs region around Glenarbon is widely known for mixed farming, including sheep and cattle grazing as well as cropping operations. The area typically experiences semi-arid to sub-tropical conditions, with the project area recording an annual average rainfall of 630mm. The soils on the property are characterized as light and sandy.

This project was set up to build climate resilience during drought conditions and currently operates as a sheep farm running 800 Australian White ewes, which supply direct-to-consumer lamb boxes through the Macintyre Brook Lamb business. It was the third project to undergo AgriProve's Carbon Intensity Assessment, proving it sequesters more carbon than it emits, achieving a "beyond net-zero" status. By utilizing rotational grazing, multi-species crops, and satellite-derived groundcover data for on-farm decision making, the project successfully generated 1,362 ACCUs in its first three years.