Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, the Hon David Littleproud MP
Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton MP
Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales farmers' and communities' preparedness for drought will be transformed with the opening of a Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub for the region.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Hub is one of eight hubs across the country to be established that will support development and uptake of innovative technologies and practices that improve drought resilience.
The Hub lead, the University of Southern Queensland, will also oversee the co-design with farmers and communities of innovative projects to ensure they deliver what is needed in the region.
"Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs have come about through the forward-thinking Future Drought Fund - a long term, sustained investment of $100 million each year to build drought preparedness," Minister Littleproud said.
"Drought is a natural part of the Australian landscape and these hubs will play a critical role in helping farmers and agricultural communities to be better prepared.
"The partner organisations involved in this Hub will bring together farmers, researchers, state government, local entrepreneurs, Indigenous groups, NRM practitioners, industry and community groups and non-profit sector organisations."
Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said the Southern QLD and Northern NSW Hub would be based at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, with five nodes in Longreach, Roma, Stanthorpe, Lismore and Narrabri.
"The Hub will bring together organisations like Beanstalk AgTech, Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Ltd., and the Australian Red Cross to engage directly with farmers, traditional owners, agribusinesses to empower stakeholders to co-design drought preparedness activities for the whole region," Mr Hamilton said.
"We welcome the Hub's collaborative and inclusive approach, getting regional people working together to ensure research and development is useful for Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales farmers and communities to be more resilient and prepared for future drought."
The five nodes in Longreach, Roma, Stanthorpe, Lismore and Narrabri are strategically located to represent a range of agricultural industries and will be a 'shopfront' with people on the ground.
Fast Facts:
- This is one of eight Hubs to be established around the country through the Australian Government's $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
- The Hubs are the centrepiece of the Australian Government's $86 million Future Drought Fund Research and Adoption Program.
- They will become flagship precincts for agricultural innovation.
- The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment will lead the co-ordination of the Hubs, supporting them to become interconnected agricultural innovation precincts.
