Messner Carbon Project 1

Messner Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Shire of Westonia, situated roughly 40-50km northwest of the Westonia township in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It was registered in June 2022 and covers an area of 933.24ha.

Soil carbon projects operating under the 2021 Measurement and Models methodology require proponents to establish baseline soil carbon levels through physical core sampling. Once baselines are set, new land management activities must be introduced to increase soil organic carbon stocks over the 25-year crediting period. For this specific project, the registered activity involves applying nutrients to the land in the form of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address a material soil deficiency. This practice is designed to boost plant growth and root biomass within the agricultural system, successfully drawing more carbon down into the soil.

The Westonia district is a semi-arid agricultural region predominantly known for broadacre cropping, such as wheat, and sheep grazing. The area typically receives low annual rainfall averaging around 300-350mm, making soil moisture retention a critical focus for farmers. Soils in this part of the Wheatbelt are highly variable, ranging from sandplains and sandy loams to heavier clay and duplex soils that can be prone to acidity or salinity.

This project is part of a significant aggregation of carbon estimation areas across the district, as evidenced by the registration of at least 19 different "Messner Carbon Projects" in the immediate vicinity. The proponent, Agriprove, manages these projects using an innovative hybrid monitoring approach that combines direct 1-metre deep soil core measurements with remote satellite imagery (NDRE and NDVI) to accurately track and quantify carbon abatement.