Pannell Carbon Project 1

Pannell Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 40km south of Loxton in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia. The project was registered in May 2025 and covers a project area of 691 hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits increases in soil organic carbon stocks resulting from new or materially different management activities. In this specific instance, the project involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to the land to address material nutrient deficiencies. By correcting these deficiencies, the project aims to boost plant biomass production, which in turn increases the input of carbon into the soil system.

The region surrounding Loxton and the northern Mallee is characterized by a semi-arid climate with average annual rainfall between 250mm and 280mm. The landscape typically consists of undulating rises and dunefields, with soils that are predominantly sandy loams, often calcareous and prone to low fertility and wind erosion. Land use in this area is primarily dryland broadacre cropping and grazing. The project is likely associated with local grower Mike Pannell, a past winner of the Syngenta Growth Awards for productivity, highlighting a focus on integrating improved management practices with commercial farming operations. The project is facilitated by Agriprove, a major developer in the Australian soil carbon sector.