McNiel Carbon Project

McNiel Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located approximately 5km south-east of Murwillumbah in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. It was registered in April 2021 and covers 49.81ha.

Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models projects involve altering agricultural management practices to increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Under the 2021 methodology, this requires implementing new or materially different activities and verifying carbon increases through a combination of direct soil sampling and modelling over the project's lifespan.

The Murwillumbah area is well known for cattle grazing, dairy farming, and tropical horticulture such as sugar cane and fruit. The area experiences a sub-tropical, high-rainfall climate, and local soils are generally rich, basalt-derived krasnozems, red earths, and alluvial clays.

This project increases carbon in the soil within the agricultural system by altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. These specific changes are designed to promote soil vegetation cover, improve overall soil health, and boost pasture resilience.

Originally registered under the older 2018 Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration method, the project was updated in October 2023 to transition to the newer 2021 Measurement and Models determination. The project is managed by AgriProve Solutions Pty Ltd, one of Australia's largest developers for soil carbon, who typically establish these projects with a 25-year permanence period to help farmers generate sustainable income from improved soil management.