Pannell Carbon Project 13

Pannell Carbon Project 13 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, approximately 50km south of the major service centre of Loxton and southeast of the small township of Alawoona. Registered in May 2025, the project covers roughly 498 hectares of agricultural land. The region is well-known for its semi-arid environment, characterized by sandy loam soils and Mallee scrub vegetation, and is a hub for dryland cereal cropping and sheep grazing.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon Methodology (Measurement and Models), which credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels over time. A key requirement of this methodology is the rigorous measurement of baseline carbon stocks followed by modelled or measured updates to demonstrate abatement. For this specific project, the primary activity involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies in the soil. This strategy aims to overcome the natural limitations of the sandy Mallee soils, thereby boosting plant growth and increasing the rate at which carbon is stored in the soil profile.

The Pannell family, associated with the project, are established figures in the local agricultural community, having been recognized as key barley suppliers for Coopers Brewery and award-winning growers. Their operations have historically transitioned from sheep grazing to intensive cropping, focusing on sustainable practices in a low-rainfall landscape (typically around 300mm annually). This carbon project likely integrates with their broader grain production system to diversify income and improve soil health.