Maitland Foods Carbon Project 1

Maitland Foods Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon project located roughly 16km northwest of Clare and 8km southeast of Brinkworth in the Mid North region of South Australia. It was registered in March 2026 and covers a project area of 437.26 ha.

Soil carbon projects operate under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. These projects involve modifying agricultural practices to build and store organic carbon within the soil system. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), proponents must introduce at least one new, eligible land management activity.

The Mid North area is a prominent agricultural region known primarily for broadacre cropping (such as wheat, lentils, and export hay) and livestock grazing. The region typically experiences a Mediterranean climate with a winter-dominant annual rainfall of around 400 mm. Soils in the area are generally red-brown earths and clay loams, which are highly suitable for dryland agriculture.

This project aims to increase carbon in the soil by applying nutrients to the land in the form of a synthetic or non-synthetic fertiliser to address a material deficiency. This activity supports increased plant growth and root biomass production, which facilitates carbon sequestration in the agricultural system.

An interesting note is that the project is situated on land managed by Maitland Foods, an integrated broadacre cropping and contract farming enterprise operated by the Maitland family, who have farmed locally at 'Anama Park' since 1866. The family focuses heavily on sustainable modern farming methods to produce cereal crops, export hay, legumes, and pulses across their 3,000-hectare operation. In recent years, Maitland Foods has embraced precision agriculture tools, comprehensive data management platforms, and advanced seeding equipment to optimise their inputs and sustainably manage their soils. The carbon project was developed in partnership with Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd.