In a milestone for the pastoral industry, two Queensland beef enterprises that are part of the nation’s first project accurately measuring soil carbon, at scale, have been issued with a combined 151,312 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The ACCUs were issued by the Clean Energy Regulator for Tom and Antoinette Archer’s 3851 ha “Rexton”, near Goondiwindi, and Andrew and Meagan Lawrie’s “Moora Plains”, near Gogango west of Rockhampton, in what is an unprecedented demonstration of the impact active land and livestock management has on removing carbon from the atmosphere and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

On both properties, the net carbon value generated, after accounting for all discounts including but not limited to methane emissions, expenses associated with carbon measurement and project-related fees was in excess of that generated through livestock production. 

“This unquestionably shows there is more value to management than just the impact that you have on livestock production,” said Dr Terry McCosker, founder of RCS and Chair of CarbonLink.

“In the first instance it is important that management decisions are being made to elevate production businesses through greater soil health and biodiversity and, in the case of Rexton and Moora Plains, this was achieved through employing strategies developed by RCS (Resource Consulting Services). For the Archers and Lawries, carbon has now proven to be a strong secondary source of income – a bonus for getting the management of the landscape right.”

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