Messner Carbon Project 10

Messner Carbon Project 10 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the north-eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 50km northeast of the town of Mukinbudin. Registered in June 2022, the project spans 1,578 hectares of agricultural land typically used for dryland cropping and grazing. The project is part of a broader portfolio of carbon projects developed by Agriprove Solutions in the region, which includes the Shire of Westonia and surrounding areas.

This project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. The primary mechanism for generating carbon credits (ACCUs) involves altering land management practices to increase Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks. Specifically, this project focuses on addressing material nutrient deficiencies in the soil through the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers. By optimizing soil nutrition, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, thereby drawing more carbon from the atmosphere into the soil profile.

The region surrounding the project area is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Rainfall is generally low, averaging between 300mm and 350mm annually, which can present a challenge for soil carbon build-up compared to higher rainfall zones. The local soils are typical of the eastern Wheatbelt, consisting largely of sandy loams, yellow sands, and duplex soils (sand over clay), which often require careful management to mitigate issues like acidity or compaction.

Agriprove Solutions, the project proponent, is Australia’s largest soil carbon project developer and often utilizes a digital-first approach to streamline the registration and monitoring process. The Messner series of projects appears to be a cluster of properties in the Westonia/Mukinbudin district participating in the ACCU scheme.