Barwick Carbon Project 1

Barwick Carbon Project 1 is a soil organic carbon sequestration project located approximately 6km north of Kaniva in the West Wimmera region of Victoria, roughly 25km east of the South Australian border. It was registered in March 2022 and covers 176.73ha.

Soil organic carbon projects involve increasing the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils by adopting new or materially different land management activities. The 2021 Measurement and Models methodology requires proponents to conduct baseline soil sampling and subsequent sampling rounds every 1 to 5 years. Carbon stock changes can then be calculated using either a direct measurement-only approach or a hybrid approach that integrates model estimates.

The Kaniva area is well known for broadacre cropping (including wheat, barley, and pulses) as well as sheep grazing. The region is typically classified as semi-arid with relatively low to moderate average annual rainfall of around 380-450mm. Its landscape is primarily composed of productive self-mulching, cracking clay soils (Vertosols), along with some Sodosols and sandy loams.

This project increases carbon in the soil by applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address material nutrient deficiencies. It also focuses on retaining stubble after crop harvesting rather than removing or burning it, which helps decompose organic matter back into the agricultural system. Additionally, Barwick Carbon Project 1 is managed by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd and is part of a larger, multi-staged cluster of Barwick carbon projects (including projects 2, 3, and 4) operating in the region.