Say hello to nutrient dense soils and better produce with new product WormGro to soon hit the market after receiving a grant as part of the Queensland Government's Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants scheme.
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith says Kookaburra Worm Farms, based in Gin Gin in the Bundaberg region, is one of 16 businesses to receive a RED Grant of up to $200,000.
"These grants are about encouraging innovation across the agricultural sector and assisting with economic development in regional Queensland," Mr Smith said.
"In building a full-scale production facility for WormGro, Kookaburra Worm Farms will take on 10 new full-time staff who will be critical to the operation's success.
"With more good jobs in rural and regional Queensland this will provide a long-term injection into the local economy of these communities."
Director of Kookaburra Worm Farms George Mingin said they're eager to get started on their commercial scale facility which will produce five million litres of WormGro per annum.
"WormGro is a newly developed liquid biological fertiliser. It uses proprietary technology to create natural nitrogen cycling in soils, providing a cost-effective alternative to synthetic fertilisers.
"The new jobs this project will generate means a new skilled workforce will be attracted to the region, therefore helping transition agriculture into a more sustainable and environmentally responsible bioeconomy.
"These new jobs will significantly bolster the primary production value chain in our rural area which will have a flow-on effect to a range of agricultural industries, benefiting primary production enterprises across the country.
"When primary producers use WormGro, their farming operations become far more sustainable. They require fewer inputs which leads to higher productivity and greater profitability."
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said Kookaburra Worm Farms is one of 16 businesses approved in the fourth round of the RED Grants program with total funding of just over $3 million.
"Overall, these 16 projects are expected to create more than 217 direct long-term good jobs across regional Queensland," Mr Furner said.
"The initial three rounds of the RED Grants program have seen funding of $10 million over three years to support more than 30 projects which have created 1,800 good jobs across regional Queensland.
"The Palaszczuk Government has continued its investment with a further $6.6 million to be delivered in two rounds over the next two years to generate even more good jobs, expand agricultural supply chains and provide significant economic benefit to rural areas."
