Scott Carbon Project 1

Scott Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, approximately 25 kilometers northwest of the regional centre of Naracoorte. Registered in March 2022, the project covers 166.53 hectares of agricultural land within the Naracoorte Lucindale Council area. This region is a significant hub for primary production, widely recognized for its sheep and cattle grazing, cropping, and viticulture, particularly in the nearby Padthaway and Coonawarra wine regions.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon (Measurement and Models) methodology. This framework allows landholders to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by sequestering carbon in agricultural soils. Participants must establish a baseline of soil organic carbon through sampling and then implement new or materially different land management activities to increase those levels. For the Scott Carbon Project 1, the specific activity involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies in the soil, a practice designed to boost plant growth and, consequently, soil carbon stocks.

Environmentally, the project area experiences a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with an annual rainfall of approximately 480mm to 550mm. The landscape in this part of the Southeast is often defined by ancient coastal dune ranges and interdunal flats. Soils in the vicinity are typically variable, ranging from sandy loams over clay (often prone to waterlogging in winter) to shallow, stony soils on limestone ridges. The project is managed by AgriProve Solutions, a prominent developer in the sector that has been active in establishing the first successful soil carbon credits in South Australia.