AGRICULTURE/MARITIME

Soil Science Challenge

The competitive process is aimed at research organisations, with new projects that add to Australia’s soil health knowledge and address one of the following research priorities:

• Soil carbon dynamics
• Soil hydrology
• Soil biology and nutrients
• Soil/root interface

The objectives of the Soil Science Challenge are to:

• support research to address priority gaps in the current soil-related science knowledge base; those findings are to be provided for peer review and should be prepared in a manner suitable for publishing
• support research that contributes to the knowledge base necessary to achieve the goals of the National Soil Strategy
• provide Australia, including industry, farmers and other land managers, with new and improved soil science to influence soil health, leading to improved productivity, profitability, resilience and to assist in mitigating climate change.

Amount Available: from $500,000 to $5,000,000
Closing Date: 14 February 2022 

Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Grant

The grants will fund on-ground implementation of at least 4 blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects in Australia. The projects will be chosen to represent a variety of blue carbon ecosystem types and socio-economic settings (for example, providing fishing, tourism, cultural or coastal protection benefits), and serve as demonstration of the outcomes achievable for climate, biodiversity and livelihoods.

The objectives of the grants are: 

• restore degraded and/or re-establish previously lost blue carbon ecosystems by implementing on-ground ecosystem restoration activities
• provide information on the benefits to climate, biodiversity and livelihoods resulting from restoration activities within various ecosystem types and socio-economic settings.

Amount Available: from $1 million to $4 million
Closing Date: 15 February 2022 

Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days Grant

The grant is available for agricultural show and field day organisers if they meet all of the eligibility criteria, including having cancelled their scheduled show or field day in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Amount Available: Up to $70,000 dependent on size of show/field day
Closing Date: 17 February 2022 

QLD Food Waste for Healthy Soils Program

Do you or your business have a project that diverts organic material from landfill and produce outputs that can be safely used on soils?

This Program is directed at funding capital costs to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill, improve the quality, safety and consistency of organic material and facilitate the development of sustainable markets for end product.

Amount Available: minimum $50,000 (Pool: 11 million)
Closing Date: 25 February 2022 

Coles Nurture Fund

Australian producers can apply for a grant of up to $500,000 to help them develop new market-leading products, technologies and processes.

Amount Available: Up to $500,000
Closing Date: 25 February 2022 

Woolworths Organic Growth Fund

Funding will be made available to eligible Australian farmers to finance the purchase of organic farming assets and infrastructure and investment in new technology, research and development and other organic farming initiatives and activities.

Funding will be distributed by the Fund in the form of financial grants issued directly by Woolworths (WOGF Grants) and interest-free loans issued by the Fund’s banking partner, Heritage Bank Limited.

Amount Available: Up to $500,000
Closing Date: 28 February 2022 

Wine Export Grant

Small and medium wine producers may be eligible for up to $25,000 in reimbursement for the cost of promotional activities in any export market, including:

• Free samples including freight or transport
• Trade fairs and forums – including online and virtual promotions, marketing and advertising collateral specific to your international audience
• Specific travel costs (includes a daily allowance, limits apply).

Up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses incurred on or after 1 July 2020 will be reimbursed for eligible applicants.

Amount Available: up to $25,000
Closing Date: 02 May 2022 

Agristarter Loan

Loans to assist first time farmers and loans to support farm succession arrangements. You can apply if you are an eligible first time farmers wanting to buy, establish or develop their first farm or Eligible farmers and farm businesses who are planning for and implementing succession arrangements

Amount Available: Up to $2,000,000 low interest loan
Closing Date: When funds are fully allocated

ILSC Agribusiness Investment Program

The Agribusiness Investment Program supports the development and growth of Indigenous agribusinesses to create a thriving and sustainable Indigenous agribusiness sector.

The program will bring together Indigenous Australians, investors, industry and agricultural producers to stimulate the growth of Indigenous agribusinesses around Australia.

The ILSC is focused on investing in sustainable opportunities that support positioning Indigenous Australians for future success in Australia’s agribusiness sector. A central part of ILSC’s agribusiness investment strategy is opening up opportunities around Australia in a range of agricultural markets to balance the spread of ILSC’s investment in the Indigenous agribusiness sector

Amount Available: Dependent on requirements
Closing Date: No current close date

Fight Food Waste

 This program provides access to funding, skills and expertise to find the best food waste solutions for SMEs to assist in their efficiency and sustainability.
Amount Available: matched funding to a maximum of $50,000
Closing Date: Open until funds are fully allocated ($200k total)

Pollination Fund Grant

The Pollination Fund, part of the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative, aims to enhance and support existing pollinators, and identify the most effective pollination methods for various horticulture crop types. To help in safeguarding the horticulture industry, the Pollination Fund will identify putting practical measures in place to support honey bee health and identify and develop new pollination opportunities and techniques..
Amount Available: matched funding to a maximum of 30% of the project
Closing Date: no current closing date

Farm Household Allowance

Provides help to eligible farmers, and their partners, experiencing financial hardship. It offers planning and training for long-term financial improvements.

FHA is a package of assistance available to cash-strapped farming families, regardless of the source of the hardship. The assistance includes up to 4 years of fortnightly income support in every 10-year period.

Amount Available: Dependent on requirements
Closing Date: no current closing date

Seedlab Australia Grant

Seedlab Australia is set to help food and drink start-ups and SME’s across Australia, to hone their craft and become retail ready.

Seedlab Australia will help businesses start, scale and grow to pitch to major retailers through a program of training and support from industry experts spanning business strategy, production, range, distribution and branding.

The program will identify food producers with the potential to scale and thrive in retail across innovative, high growth categories such as health and wellness, sustainably produced, and plant-based products. These criteria will evolve and be more fully defined in the fullness of time.

Amount Available: Support and Training
Closing Date: no current closing date