Gillard Carbon Project 1

Gillard Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 20km southeast of Jamestown in the Mid North region of South Australia. Registered in May 2025, the project covers 231 hectares of agricultural land. The surrounding Mid North region is a well-established mixed farming zone, predominantly utilized for cereal cropping (wheat, barley) and livestock grazing (sheep, cattle).

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This methodology rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through changes in land management. Specific activities for this project include re-establishing or rejuvenating pasture through seeding and altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. These practices are designed to improve ground cover and soil health, thereby sequestering more carbon from the atmosphere into the soil profile.

Environmentally, the Jamestown area experiences a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Annual rainfall typically averages around 400-500mm. The local soil landscape is often characterized by red-brown earths and calcareous loams, which are productive but can benefit significantly from increased organic matter. The project is managed by AgriProve, a prominent soil carbon project developer that typically utilizes a partnership model to assist farmers with the technical and upfront costs of soil sampling and compliance.