Downer Carbon Project 2

Downer Carbon Project 2 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the West Wimmera region of Victoria, approximately 25 kilometers west of Kaniva and immediately adjacent to the South Australian border near Serviceton. Registered in October 2024, the project covers a project area of roughly 377 hectares. It appears to be part of a broader aggregation or cross-border operation, as it shares a naming convention with "Downer Carbon Project 1," which is registered in the neighbouring Tatiara District Council area of South Australia.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which credits landholders for measured increases in soil organic carbon (SOC). The specific activities undertaken to achieve this include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers to address nutrient deficiencies, converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices, and retaining crop stubble. These changes are designed to minimize soil disturbance and increase biomass return to the soil, thereby boosting carbon stocks over a 25-year permanence period.

The West Wimmera and Tatiara regions are characterized by a semi-arid to temperate climate, with average annual rainfall in the range of 400mm to 450mm, falling predominantly in winter and spring. The landscape is typically utilized for mixed dryland cropping (wheat, barley, canola) and livestock grazing (sheep and cattle). Soils in this border district often consist of "crabhole" self-mulching clays (Vertosols) or texture-contrast soils (Sodosols) with sandy or loamy topsoils over clay subsoils. The project proponent, Agriprove Solutions, is Australia’s largest developer of soil carbon projects, known for partnering with farmers to manage the administrative and measurement complexities of the scheme.