A NEW diversified agricultural platform managed by Gunn Agri Partners has made it first purchase, securing the Arcturus Downs Aggregation in Queensland’s highly regarded Central Highlands.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and Canadian pension fund and global investment group La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) have joined forces to launch the $250 million platform to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units, with Rio Tinto as a foundation off taker.

La Caisse has invested $200M alongside CEFC’s $50M commitment to create Meldora which will be managed by Australian agriculture and natural capital asset manager, Gunn Agri Partners.

Arcturus Downs Aggregation

Arcturus Downs Aggregation comprises three neighbouring properties – 7940ha Arcturus, 3848ha Kronje and 3813ha Barton – located 32km from Springsure and 61km from Emerald.

Across the 15,601ha the holdings produce 1000ha of irrigated cotton, sorghum and mung beans, and 6852ha of dryland wheat, barley, chickpeas, sorghum, cotton and oats.

It is understood cattle breeding and backgrounding will continue on the grazing land with a portion to be planted to native vegetation.

Given the scale of the investment and the scope of the Meldora platform, Gunn Agri’s joint managing director Bradley Wheaton described the acquisition as uniquely ambitious.

“Native vegetation will be restored and integrated in the landscape of an institutional-quality agricultural investment,” Mr Wheaton said.

“Through diversification, across irrigation, dryland cropping and carbon credit generation, the investment model redefines the future of farming.”

Canadian-based La Caisse executive vice-president Emmanuel Jaclot said this investment highlights the growing global interest in carbon farming and sustainable agriculture as a valuable asset class.

“This investment is a timely step toward advancing resilient, climate-smart agriculture in Australia, while delivering measurable environmental and economic value,” Mr Jaclot said.

“Teaming up once again with the CEFC and GAP – and with Rio Tinto as a foundation offtaker – reinforces our confidence in this platform’s ability to scale.

“It reflects La Caisse’s commitment to sustainable land use and our broader net zero ambition, as we position ourselves early in a growing market for high-quality carbon credits.”

CEFC head of natural capital Heechung Sung said the initiative represents a long-term investment in nature and land-based strategies in Australian agriculture.

“By adopting an integrated sustainable land management model, this strategy can produce high-quality agricultural commodities while also increasing biodiversity, improving ecosystems, and earning carbon revenues through the investment in native landscape restoration,” Ms Sung said.

“Sustainable agricultural practices across Australian farmland paves the way for a more resilient future with better environmental outcomes for the sector.

“By utilising a high-integrity method – Environmental Plantings – that also supports biodiversity, these carbon credits have the potential to command a premium in the market.

“This reinforces the role of nature-based solutions in climate action and underscores the increasing value of sustainable land management and investment in the restoration of trees and vegetation, as we transition to a low carbon economy.”

The Arcturus Downs Aggregation is benefitted by productive brigalow and deep alluvial scrub soils adjacent to the Comet River and Springsure Creek.

Substantial water allocations include 3363ML (unsupplemented) from the Comet River, underpinned by additional overland flow water harvesting capabilities following high rainfall/river flow events.

The aggregation has 10 equipped bores, 14 dams, as well as permanent and seasonal waterholes, supported by 14,000ML of on-farm water storage in a reliable 685mm average annual rainfall region.

An integrated grain storage complex has a combined capacity of 7850-tonnes, including a drive-over receival hopper, grain drier, out-loading facilities and a full-length 80-tonne capacity weighbridge.

Infrastructure includes two main homes, six cottages, staff quarters, numerous sheds, three cattle yards (two are new) and silage pits with 3000-tonnes of capacity.

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