Lynch Carbon Project

The Lynch Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located at "Koolah," a property near Yankalilla on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, approximately 70 kilometers south of Adelaide. Registered in October 2020, the project originally covered an area of approximately 209 hectares, though recent operational reports indicate active management on a focused area of around 156 hectares following variations. The region is characterized by high annual rainfall, averaging around 800mm, and features landscapes of sandy loam and ironstone gravel soils overlying heavy clay, which are typical of the Southern Lofty Ranges.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This framework rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through changes in land management. In this specific case, the proponents, the Walter family (trading as Koolah Angus Beef), have transitioned from set stocking to time-controlled rotational grazing. They utilize high-density grazing for short durations to allow pasture rest and recovery, alongside the use of a Soilkee renovator to improve soil aeration and pasture diversity.

A notable achievement for the Lynch Carbon Project is its status as the first soil carbon project in South Australia to be issued Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). Corporate reports from the project partner, AgriProve, highlight that the operation has achieved a "beyond net-zero" carbon intensity, meaning it sequesters more carbon than the farm emits. This success demonstrates the potential for high-rainfall grazing systems to generate additional revenue streams while simultaneously reducing input costs, such as fertilizers, through improved soil health.