The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and global investment group La Caisse have launched a A$250 million (~$165 million) agricultural and carbon platform in Australia, with Rio Tinto confirmed as a foundation offtaker of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).
The new platform, named Meldora and managed by Gunn Agri Partners, will combine sustainable farming with large-scale environmental plantings accredited under the ACCU scheme.
La Caisse has committed A$200 million to the initiative, while CEFC is contributing A$50 million. Meldora’s first investment is a 15,000-hectare broadacre and irrigation farm in Central Queensland.
La Caisse executive VP and head of infrastructure and sustainability Emmanuel Jaclot said the partnership reflects confidence in Meldora’s ability to scale: “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.”
Blending Agriculture and Carbon Revenues
Meldora aims to generate high-quality carbon credits by restoring native vegetation, which will be maintained for between 25 and 100 years to provide durable carbon sequestration and biodiversity gains.
Alongside environmental outcomes, the platform will also continue producing agricultural commodities, offering multiple revenue streams.
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CEFC head of natural capital Heechung Sung described the initiative as “a long-term investment in nature and land-based strategies in Australian agriculture,” adding that Rio Tinto’s early commitment as an offtaker signals the growing demand for “high-integrity carbon credits.”
Bradley Wheaton, joint managing director of Gunn Agri Partners, said the project’s scale and diversified model “redefines the future of farming” by integrating carbon revenues with sustainable food production and ecosystem restoration.
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