Cairns Carbon Project 2

Cairns Carbon Project 2 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in Wandearah East, South Australia, approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Port Pirie and 20 kilometers west of Crystal Brook. Despite the name "Cairns," which might suggest a Queensland location, this project is firmly situated in the Mid North region of South Australia. It was registered on January 11, 2024, and covers a land area of 221.72 hectares.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which credits landholders for measured increases in soil organic carbon stocks over time. To achieve this, the project has committed to implementing specific land management changes designed to boost soil health. These registered activities include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, retaining crop stubble rather than burning or removing it, and converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices. These steps are characteristic of conservation agriculture, aiming to minimize soil disturbance and maintain ground cover to trap carbon.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with a typical annual rainfall of approximately 325mm-350mm, which presents a challenging environment for building soil carbon compared to higher rainfall zones. The local landscape generally features alkaline clay-loam soils or sandy loams typical of the Wandearah Land System. The primary land use in this district is a mix of broadacre cropping (wheat and barley) and livestock grazing. The project proponent, AgriProve Solutions, is a prominent aggregator in the Australian market, often utilizing specific pasture cropping technologies (such as the Soilkee Renovator) in their partner projects to stimulate deep-soil carbon storage.