Poynton Carbon Project

Poynton Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located near the town of Carrick, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Launceston in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. Registered in December 2020, the project covers 378 hectares of agricultural land. The Northern Midlands region is a significant agricultural hub for Tasmania, historically renowned for high-quality wool production, fat lambs, beef cattle, and increasingly for cropping activities such as cereals and poppies.

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 establish a baseline of soil carbon stocks through physical sampling and then implement new management activities designed to increase those stocks. For the Poynton Carbon Project, the specific activity involves altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. By optimizing grazing pressure, the project aims to improve ground cover and root mass, thereby drawing more carbon from the atmosphere into the soil profile.

Environmentally, the Carrick and Longford region experiences a cool temperate climate. The area typically receives an annual rainfall between 600mm and 800mm, which is generally reliable but can be subject to dry summers. The landscape is characterized by river valleys and rolling plains, with soil types in the region varying from alluvial soils (Dermosols/Vertosols) on river flats to podzolic soils (Kurosols/Chromosols) on the undulating slopes. These soils are often responsive to regenerative agriculture practices, making them suitable candidates for soil carbon projects.

The project is managed by AgriProve Solutions, a prominent soil carbon project developer in Australia. AgriProve has been active in the Carrick area, partnering with organizations like Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) to establish demonstration sites that trial multi-species pastures and holistic grazing management to demonstrate carbon neutrality in red meat production.