Agricultural Innovation Hubs Grant Opportunity

Overview

The Australian Government recently released the National Agricultural Innovation Policy Statement. The statement provides direction for improving the Australian agricultural innovation system to drive productivity growth across agriculture and its supply chain. The statement establishes four new National Agricultural Innovation Priorities that target exports, climate resilience, biosecurity and digital agriculture. These priorities will align efforts and target investment across the agricultural innovation system to achieve a more profitable, productive and sustainable agricultural industry. On 6 October 2021, the Australian Government announced the eight Future Drought Fund (FDF) Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs (Hubs) will expand beyond their drought remit to support the four newly established innovation priorities. The Hubs are in regional areas that reflect the key agricultural and climatic zones across the country. The Hubs currently provide networks for researchers, primary producers and community groups to work together to enhance drought resilient practices within their region. The Agricultural Innovation Hubs program (the program) will run over 2021-22 to 2022-23. The objectives of the program are: ·       increase uptake of innovation by producers ·       stimulate collaboration in the agricultural innovation system ·       increase commercialisation outcomes.  Through development, extension, adoption and testing of new agricultural innovations, the Hubs will translate innovation research and knowledge to deliver productivity impacts for agriculture, as well as fisheries and aquaculture. There may be opportunity in the future to extend the remit of the Hubs’ activities to include forestry, if there is merit.