Innovative ag projects coming together

THE Coalition Government announced $4.5 million in grants have been awarded to help groups of farmers implement new collaborative approaches to deliver greater farmgate returns.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, said the grants, delivered by Southern Cross University under the government’s $13.8 million Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program, were delivering innovative projects.

“The Coalition Government delivered this pilot in the $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper to get more farm businesses across Australia to consider new business models, which Southern Cross University is doing under the ‘Farming Together’ brand,” Mr Joyce said.

“These grants are helping interested businesses make the next step, allowing groups to move towards forming a co-operative or some other collaborative business arrangement, giving farmers greater control of the supply chain and more bargaining power when it comes to negotiating with buyers.

“Projects include a $109,225 grant to the Professional Fishermen’s Association in New South Wales to study the feasibility of shipping live eels to China and a $57,275 grant to the Perth-based Sweeter Banana Co-operative to undertake a detailed analysis and business model for a co-op ripening and marketing facility for bananas.”

Mr Hartsuyker addressed the National Farming Together Forum, delivered under the pilot, and welcomed the interest from farmers keen to hear about what co-operatives and other forms of collaboration could provide.

For more information on the grant recipients visit farmingtogether.com.au.