Hillston Soil Carbon Project

Hillston Soil Carbon Project is a targeted soil carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 12km southeast of the township of Hillston in the Lower Lachlan Valley of New South Wales. Registered in July 2023, the project covers a precise area of 43.82 hectares. The surrounding Riverina region is a significant agricultural hub characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 375mm. The landscape is dominated by irrigated cropping, particularly cotton and citrus, as well as grazing, supported by the fertile but often sodic Grey, Brown, and Red Vertosol soils common to the alluvial river plains.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. This framework allows landholders to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by adopting new management activities that increase soil organic carbon levels. Standard requirements involve establishing a baseline through soil sampling, implementing a "new or materially different" activity, such as altering stocking density, adding irrigation, or applying specific nutrients, and measuring the change over time.

This specific project is notable for its partnership with ag-tech company RLF AgTech and acts as a commercial pilot for their "Accumulating Carbon in Soil System (ACSS)". The project activities focus on undertaking new irrigation and applying specialized synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies. By utilizing RLF’s advanced crop nutrition technology, the proponents, Luke Allan and Levi Hutchison, aim to generate carbon credits within a condensed 1-2 year timeframe, significantly faster than the industry standard of 4-5 years.