Gemma Soil Carbon Project

The Gemma Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located near the rural locality of Kamarah, approximately 15km west of Ardlethan and 50km northeast of Narrandera in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Registered on February 13, 2024, the project initially covered an area of 1,402.80 hectares. The project operates within the Narrandera Shire, a region heavily utilized for mixed farming, particularly dryland cropping of wheat, barley, and canola, alongside sheep grazing.

This project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through changes in land management activities. The Gemma project specifically focuses on applying nutrients to the land in the form of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material soil deficiencies. By optimizing nutrient availability, the project aims to increase biomass production, which in turn enhances the sequestration of carbon into the soil profile.

The Kamarah region typically experiences a semi-arid to temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450mm to 500mm, distributed relatively evenly but often winter-dominant. The landscape is characterized by red-brown earths (Chromosols) and clay loams, which are productive for agriculture but can be susceptible to structure decline if not managed carefully. The implementation of specific nutrient strategies in this environment is intended to improve soil health and resilience while generating carbon credits.

The project is developed by Loam Carbon Pty Ltd, a company well-known for its specialized fungal seed inoculums designed to build stable soil carbon. While the registered activity for this project specifies nutrient application, Loam Carbon's projects often integrate their proprietary biological technologies with broader agronomic management. A notable variation occurred on October 8, 2025, where specific areas listed in the original project design were removed, reducing the total project area.