Messner Carbon Project 8

Messner Carbon Project 8 is a soil carbon project located in the Shire of Westonia, approximately 30km southeast of Mukinbudin and 35km northwest of the Westonia townsite in Western Australia. Registered in June 2022, the project covers a substantial area of 1,393 hectares within the state’s eastern wheatbelt region.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Measurement and Models), which credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels. Specifically, this project involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies in the soil. By correcting these deficiencies, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, which in turn draws more carbon from the atmosphere and sequesters it in the soil.

The Westonia region is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 330mm. Land use in the area is predominantly broadacre cropping (wheat, barley, canola) and sheep grazing. The soils in this part of the wheatbelt are typically sandy-surfaced duplex soils or granitic loams, which can be susceptible to wind erosion and acidity but respond well to improved management and nutrient correction.

This project appears to be part of a larger aggregation of carbon projects, as indicated by the existence of multiple "Messner" projects (e.g., Messner Carbon Project 1, Messner Carbon Project 14, Messner Carbon Project 15) in the Clean Energy Regulator's register. The proponent, AgriProve Solutions, is a leading developer in the sector, known for using digital tools and remote sensing to streamline the measurement and modelling of soil carbon stocks.