Reliable soil intelligence: Integrated sensing and MRV-Plus for NSW decarbonisation

Project lead: Dr Negin Shariati
Project collaborator: Dr Rasool Keshavarz
Lead organisation: University of Technology Sydney
Partner: NTT Australia Solutions (matched funding)

The Challenge

Soil carbon is a key lever for emissions reduction, but measuring it accurately at scale is costly and complex. Traditional soil coring is labour-intensive and limited in coverage, while satellite methods require extensive calibration and can be error-prone. Fragmented datasets and inconsistent protocols make it difficult for farmers, project developers and regulators to adopt carbon farming practices with confidence.

Our Approach

This project builds on existing soil sensors and payloads developed at the UTS-RFCT Lab with NTT and the Food Agility CRC. Rather than creating new hardware, the focus is on integrating, calibrating and validating these sensors into a unified system. Laboratory calibration, limited NSW field trials with AACo and machine learning analysis will generate evidence-grade datasets and protocols aligned with ACCU Schedule 2 model-enhancement requirements, providing traceable, high-quality data for carbon farming projects.

Expected Impact

This project aims to provide a calibrated soil sensing and analytics system and protocols that support ACCU Schedule 2. By improving the integrity and accessibility of soil carbon data, it will help lower MRV costs, accelerate adoption of carbon farming practices and build confidence in carbon markets. Over time, this foundation could enable broader participation, support soil health and water-use efficiency, and strengthen rural economic resilience.

Project Timeline: April 2026 – April 2027