Duxton Apples Carbon Project

Duxton Apples Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located in Loxton North, approximately 5km from the town of Loxton in South Australia's Riverland region. Registered in June 2025, the project covers 106 hectares of agricultural land. The region is a major hub for irrigated horticulture, particularly known for citrus, stone fruit, and almond production, supported by the nearby Murray River. The specific site is part of the extensive apple orchards managed by the Duxton group, which accounts for a significant portion of South Australia's apple production.

The 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 levels through changes in land management. For this specific project, activities involve the use of cover crops to maintain vegetation cover on the orchard floor, moving away from bare earth policies, and the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies. This approach aims to sequester carbon while simultaneously improving soil health and moisture retention in the orchard system.

Environmentally, the Loxton region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Average annual rainfall is low, typically around 260mm, necessitating irrigation for commercial agriculture. The soils in the Loxton North area are predominantly sandy loams and calcareous earths, often with calcrete profiles. These sandy soils generally have lower baseline carbon levels, offering potential for sequestration when organic matter (such as cover crops) is reintroduced and maintained. The project proponent, Duxton Carbon Pty Ltd, is a subsidiary within the Duxton Farms group, which has been actively consolidating agricultural assets and integrating ESG strategies across its portfolio.