Messner Carbon Project 12

Messner Carbon Project 12 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Shire of Westonia, in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The project is situated approximately 55km northeast of the regional hub of Merredin and northwest of the township of Westonia. Registered on August 5, 2024, the project covers a land area of 424.51 hectares. It appears to be part of a larger aggregation of projects on the same property or owned by the same landholder, as evidenced by the existence of "Messner Carbon Project 1" (registered in 2022) and "Messner Carbon Project 15" in the same local government area.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with low rainfall, typically averaging around 300-350mm annually. Land use in this area is predominantly broadacre mixed farming, combining cereal cropping (wheat, barley) with sheep grazing. The soils in the Westonia and Merredin districts are typically ancient and weathered, consisting largely of sandy loams, yellow duplex soils, and red earths which can be naturally low in nutrients.

This project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method credits landholders for increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks through changes in land management. Specifically, this project involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material soil deficiencies. By correcting these nutrient imbalances, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, thereby increasing the amount of carbon stored in the soil profile. The proponent, Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, utilizes a partnership model that typically covers upfront baselining and administrative costs in exchange for a share of the resulting Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).