In the next step in the Albanese Government's plan to assist Australia's agriculture become even more sustainable, two grant rounds worth $54 million will open tomorrow under the Government's Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
The first rounds of the Partnerships and Innovations grants and the Capacity Building grants are open-competitive grant opportunities, with grants up to $5 million and $1 million being available, respectively, over 4 years from 2024-25 to 2027-28.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said climate-smart practices are central to the Government's agenda for a profitable, productive and sustainable agriculture sector in the long term.
"The Albanese Government is working closely with farmers, land managers, industry and rural communities to support the continued transition to a sustainable agriculture sector," Minister Watt said.
"Improving sustainability will help our sector to respond to the impacts of climate change as well as grow market opportunities by reaffirming our position as a high quality, safe and sustainable producer of food and fibre products in the global trade market.
"These grant opportunities also bring an increased focus on First Nations engagement, participation and leadership and will provide opportunities for First Nations agricultural enterprise, embedding traditional knowledge and land management practices in the farming sector."
The Partnerships and Innovation grants encourage the development of new and innovative tools and on-ground sustainable agriculture practices that are delivered by effective partnerships.
This funding will target larger, long-term projects that encourage multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches.
The Capacity Building grants will support farmers, community and First Nations groups and the broader agriculture sector to increase awareness, knowledge, and skills about best practice climate-smart, sustainable agriculture practices to drive their on-farm adoption.
"This funding will build on the success of existing sustainable agriculture initiatives, enable farmers to access the latest climate-smart and sustainable agriculture approaches, and inform decisions to strengthen the sustainability of their farming operations," Minister Watt said.
The $302.1 million Climate-Smart Agriculture Program is funded through the Natural Heritage Trust, the Australian Government's key investment platform for achieving its sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and environmental protection outcomes.
