Courtice Carbon Project 6

Courtice Carbon Project 6 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Tatiara region of South Australia, approximately 50km north of Bordertown and near the Victorian border. Registered in November 2021, the project covers 205.76 hectares of agricultural land. The project is part of a larger portfolio of carbon farming initiatives undertaken by the Courtice family in the district, as evidenced by the existence of multiple numbered projects (e.g., Courtice Carbon Project 10) in the Clean Energy Regulator's registry.

The project operates under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through improved management practices. Standard requirements for this methodology include establishing a baseline of soil carbon stocks through physical sampling (typically to a depth of one metre), implementing new land management activities, and conducting subsequent sampling rounds to measure increases. For this specific project, the registered activities include altering grazing intensity, applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address nutrient deficiencies, and rejuvenating pastures through seeding. These activities are designed to boost plant growth and root biomass, thereby drawing more carbon from the atmosphere into the soil.

The Tatiara region is a significant agricultural hub known for its "mixed farming" systems, which combine cropping (wheat, barley, canola) with livestock grazing (sheep and cattle). The environmental conditions in this area typically feature a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and long, dry summers. Annual rainfall generally averages between 450mm and 600mm. The soils in this specific area, often part of the Mallee landscape, are characteristically sandy loams or siliceous sands over clay or calcrete. These soils can be naturally low in fertility and prone to issues such as water repellence or wind erosion, making them ideal candidates for carbon projects that aim to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity through increased organic matter.

AgriProve Solutions Pty Ltd acts as the project proponent, providing the technological and administrative framework for the project. AgriProve is a leading developer in the Australian soil carbon market, known for using remote sensing and advanced soil sampling techniques to streamline the credit generation process. The "Courtice" projects likely represent a strategic shift for the landholders towards regenerative agriculture, leveraging carbon credits to offset the costs of inputs like pasture seed and fertiliser while improving long-term farm productivity.