Tate Carbon Project 2

Tate Carbon Project 2 is a Soil Carbon project located in the Shire of Cunderdin, approximately 18km northwest of the town of Cunderdin in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region. Registered in December 2023, the project covers 207.49 hectares of agricultural land. The surrounding region is heavily utilized for broadacre cropping (wheat, canola, barley) and sheep grazing, typical of the central Wheatbelt.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon (Measurement and Models) methodology. This framework requires landholders to switch to new land management activities, such as altering stocking rates or grazing intensity, to encourage the sequestration of carbon into the soil. Unlike earlier methods that relied solely on physical sampling, the 2021 determination allows for a hybrid approach using both soil core measurements and approved models to estimate carbon stocks, potentially reducing compliance costs.

Environmental conditions in the Cunderdin area are classified as semi-arid with a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters with an annual rainfall average of approximately 370mm. The soil composition in this part of the Wheatbelt often consists of sandplains, sandy loams, or duplex soils (sand over clay), which can be susceptible to issues like acidity or salinity but respond well to improved organic matter management.

The project is managed by Agriprove, Australia's largest developer of soil carbon projects. Agriprove typically utilizes a partnership model where they manage the compliance and measurement aspects, including the use of satellite and remote sensing technology to monitor project baselines. The specific activity listed for this project focuses on altering grazing strategies to promote vegetation cover and soil health.