The Australian Government has today announced the first round of its A$99 million ‘Action on the Ground’ program to support farmers as they adjust to Australia’s new carbon tax regime. Action on the Ground is funding farmers over the next six years to trial and demonstrate on-farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide or increase soil carbon. The program is a part of the Carbon Farming Futures Fund under the government’s A$1.7 billion Land Sector... ...Read more »

The Australian Government will provide pig farmers with the opportunity to earn carbon credits for burning their pig manure, if proposed new legislation is approved under the government’s new Carbon Farming Initiative. The Federal Government has established the Carbon Farming Initiative to develop carbon offsetting methodologies so Australia’s farmers can receive credits for reducing their carbon output. Under the Federal Government’s ‘Methodology for the Destruction of Methane Generated... ...Read more »

AgriFood Skills Australia – the key body on skills training and workforce development issues in the agrifood industry and regional Australia – has awarded three International Fellowships as part of its ongoing support for innovation.The awards, offered in conjunction with International Specialised Skills Institute, were announced at the opening dinner for the 2010 AgriFood National Conference in Melbourne on Wednesday night. The conference, which attracted some 200 delegates from government,... ...Read more »

The Federal Government is funding a new round of industry visits to China to help promote Australian agriculture to our second largest export market. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the Government would fund six industry visits to China in 2010 and 2011, under the Australia-China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement. Under the program, which has been running for more than two decades, delegates from Australia visit China, and vice versa, to help build closer commercial... ...Read more »

Expressions of interest are invited for Round 2 of the Regional Food Producers Innovation and Productivity Program. Under the program, competitive, matched-funding grants – generally between $50 000 and $2 million are available to food and seafood businesses to undertake projects that will help boost the productivity, profitability and competitiveness of Australia’s regional food producing industry. The application documentation has changed since Round 1. To submit an expression of interest,... ...Read more »

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry have announced that the Australian Federal Government is calling for Expressions of Interest from eligible companies with eligible projects for  the long awaited ‘Regional Food Producers Innovation & Productivity Grants’. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST MUST BE LODGED BY 9 FEBRUARY 2009. If a company’s expression of interest is successful they will be invited to lodge a full application. Matched funding grants between $50,000... ...Read more »

More than $20 million in research and development funding is on offer as the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) seeks ideas and innovations to help strengthen and diversify rural Australia. RIRDC has opened its call for applications for R&D funding for 2009-10 and is seeking research proposals that can best contribute to the Corporation’s goals of developing a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector. “RIRDC has a focus on diversification and... ...Read more »