Messner Carbon Project 4

Messner Carbon Project 4 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 45km east of Mukinbudin and 50km north of Westonia. Registered in June 2022, the project encompasses 1,145 hectares of agricultural land within the Shire of Westonia. The region is predominantly utilized for broadacre cropping and livestock grazing, characterized by its vast, flat landscapes and dryland farming systems.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method credits landholders for increasing soil carbon stocks through improved management practices. Specifically, this project aims to sequester carbon by applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, thereby boosting plant growth and soil organic matter. The methodology uses a hybrid approach of physical soil sampling and modelling to measure carbon increases over time, offering a cost-effective way to verify abatement.

Environmentally, the location sits within a semi-arid climate zone, receiving low annual rainfall averaging around 300mm, mostly in winter. The soils in this part of the eastern Wheatbelt are typically sandy loams, duplex soils, or "wodjil" soils (acidic sands/gravels), which can be fragile and benefit significantly from improved nutrient management and carbon-building activities. As indicated by the project numbering, this is likely part of a larger aggregation of projects managed by Agriprove on the same property or for the same landholder family.