Irvine Carbon Project

The Irvine Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 10km northeast of Miriam Vale and 45km south of the major industrial city of Gladstone in Central Queensland. Registered on December 4, 2020, the project covers 245.46 hectares of agricultural land. The region is predominantly utilized for beef cattle grazing, taking advantage of the sub-tropical coastal climate.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems) Methodology Determination 2018. This methodology requires the proponent to empirically measure soil carbon levels through physical soil coring to establish a baseline. Following this, land management activities, such as the specific alteration of stocking rates, duration, or grazing intensity mentioned for this project, are implemented to encourage vegetation growth and soil organic matter retention. Subsequent soil testing rounds are conducted to verify any increase in carbon stocks, which are then converted into Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Environmentally, the Miriam Vale and Gladstone hinterland is characterized by a sub-tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, typically receiving moderate rainfall (historically averaging 900-1000mm annually, though variable). The soils in this specific locality often include texture-contrast soils (Sodosols) and Dermosols, which are common in the undulating grazing lands of the region. These soil types generally support native and improved pastures but can be susceptible to erosion if ground cover is not maintained, making the project's focus on controlled grazing intensity particularly beneficial for soil health.

A notable aspect of this project is its proponent, Agriprove Solutions, which is Australia’s largest soil carbon project developer. Agriprove typically employs a high-tech approach involving digital soil mapping and financing models that lower the upfront barriers for farmers to undertake the expensive soil sampling required by this methodology. While the project permanence period had not commenced as of late 2025, the transition to time-controlled grazing is a standard and effective lever for increasing soil carbon in these systems.