Foster Carbon Project

The Foster Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located near the hamlet of Exton, approximately 5 kilometers east of Deloraine in Tasmania’s Meander Valley. Registered in December 2020, the project covers roughly 156 hectares of prime agricultural land situated just south of the Bass Highway. The region is renowned for its productive mixed farming landscape, supporting activities such as intensive cropping (poppies, vegetables), dairy, and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the 2018 Soil Carbon Methodology (Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems). The methodology requires landholders to implement new management activities, in this case, re-establishing or rejuvenating pasture by seeding, to increase the amount of organic carbon stored in the soil. Under the scheme, soil carbon levels are measured via baseline sampling and subsequent testing rounds, with Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) issued for verified increases in soil carbon stocks.

The Meander Valley environment is ideally suited for soil carbon projects due to its cool temperate climate and reliable rainfall, which typically averages between 750mm and 1000mm annually. The area is characterized by fertile Ferrosols (Red Basalt soils) and Dermosols. These "chocolate soils," as they are historically known in the district, are deep, well-structured, and possess high potential for carbon sequestration when managed with regenerative practices. The project is facilitated by Agriprove Solutions, a prominent developer that has been active in establishing numerous soil carbon projects across Tasmania's high-yield agricultural zones.