Growing Carbon Farming Pilot
The Growing Carbon Farming Demonstration Pilot (the pilot) is a State Government initiative, providing grants of up to $100,000 to 7 commercial carbon farming projects.
These projects will quantify carbon abatement, alongside measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits best suited to South Australia.
The Pilot aims to increase the uptake of carbon farming in South Australia by demonstrating:
- methods that have application for our primary industry sector
- carbon farming activities that contribute to revenue and jobs
- co-benefits of carbon farming.
Successful Pilot Project funding offers
Duxton Apples
Duxton Apples
Soil carbon sequestration in alley-crop production systems
This project will demonstrate soil carbon sequestration through cover cropping practices implemented in netted apple orchards.
- Location: Loxton
- Production system: Apples
- Funding offered: $43,990
Thomas Elder Institute
Thomas Elder Institute
Carbon neutral opportunities for livestock production systems
Working with 2 livestock production businesses, this project will evaluate pathways to achieve carbon neutrality in the upper South East of SA.
It involves whole farm emissions measurements, changes in management practice, and ERF registration for soil carbon sequestration.
- Location: Field
- Production system: Livestock
- Funding offered: $99,400
Upper North Farming Systems
Upper North Farming Systems
Whole-of-farm carbon methods for climate resilience and co-benefits in low rainfall farming systems
This project assesses management changes that sequester carbon in soil and vegetation. It also confers climate resilience alongside revenue pathways and co-benefits.
The work will demonstrate processes for carbon and co-benefit accounting to build landholder skills and knowledge in the upper North of SA.
- Location: Burra, Orroroo
- Production system: Mixed farming
- Funding offered: $99,726
Cloud Agronomics
Cloud Agronomics
Applying clay to sandy soils for improved soil quality and diversified revenue streams
This project will increase soil carbon through spreading clay, to quantify production and landscape health attributes.
The site will provide calibration and validation for emerging soil measurement technologies.
- Location: Shaugh
- Production system: Livestock
- Funding offered: $85,000
Thomas Foods International
Thomas Foods International
Improving carbon sequestration on grazing land for extension in the supply chain
This project will implement tree planting according to the Climate Active insetting method, and soil carbon sequestration using the ERF soil carbon method.
It will reduce emissions associated with red meat production at Mount Schanck.
- Location: Mount Schanck
- Production system: Livestock
- Funding offered: $100,000
South Australian Dairyfarmer’s Association
South Australian Dairyfarmer’s Association
Biogas electricity generation facility combining a CAL to burn methane on farm
The project will generate electricity using a covered anaerobic lagoon (CAL) to collect and concentrate methane from the primary settlement pond of the farm's effluent distribution system.
- Location: Murray Bridge
- Production system: Dairy
- Funding offered: $100,000
Mallee Sustainable Farming
Mallee Sustainable Farming
Soil carbon sequestration practices for large-scale cropping systems
Twelve farmers will demonstrate and quantify carbon farming opportunities across the Murray Mallee, totalling 3000 ha of cropping land.
This project will increase crop biomass, reduce soil disturbance, and improve soil management.
- Location: Murray Mallee
- Production system: Cropping
- Funding offered: $96,500
