Chippendale Soil Carbon Project

The Chippendale Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 25 kilometers southeast of Grenfell, in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales. Registered in July 2024, the project covers 804 hectares within the Weddin Shire, an area historically significant for gold mining and now a hub for mixed agricultural production. The proponent, Chippendale Farm Pty Ltd, manages the land which is situated in a transition zone between the dedicated cropping lands of the plains and the grazing country of the tablelands.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This framework allows landholders to earn carbon credits by implementing new management activities that increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Unlike older methods that relied solely on expensive physical sampling, this iteration utilizes a hybrid approach of soil core measurement and computer modeling to verify carbon gains.

Environmentally, the Grenfell region is characterized by a temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 620mm, predominantly falling in winter and spring. The landscape is defined by Red Chromosols (also known as Red Brown Earths), which are duplex soils featuring a sandy or loamy topsoil overlying a clay subsoil. These soils are considered the "workhorse" of NSW agriculture but can be susceptible to structure decline, making them ideal candidates for the regenerative practices proposed by this project.

Specific project activities focus on re-establishing and rejuvenating pastures through seeding and pasture cropping, a technique where crops are sown into dormant perennial pastures to maintain ground cover year-round. By altering grazing intensity and improving vegetation cover, the project aims to build soil organic matter, which enhances water retention and soil health while sequestering atmospheric carbon.