A competitive grants process to establish eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation hubs across regional Australia is now open for applications.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the hubs would provide networks for researchers, primary producers and community groups to work together to enhance drought resilience practices.
“Agricultural research is critical in increasing the productivity of our agriculture sector and must be both useful and accessible to our farmers and regional communities,”
Minister Littleproud said.
“That is why the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda is focused on strengthening our regions, increasing uptake of innovation, and establishing a culture of collaboration and entrepreneurship across our agricultural innovation system. The hubs are an important initiative that will help achieve these objectives.
“The Hubs are an essential part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and are the centrepiece of the $86 million Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program, which will help farmers and communities use innovation to become better prepared for future droughts.
“The Hubs will have a regional focus and bring research providers and users together to address local drought resilience research, development, extension, adoption and innovation priorities.
“An independent Advisory Committee, to be appointed by early 2021, rather than a regional university will provide oversight across the Hubs, connecting the Hubs to each other and to national priorities and advances.”
Applications for the Hubs are now open through the Australian Government’s Community Grants Hub: www.communitygrants.gov.au
Applications for Hubs will close on 23 December, with selection processes in the New Year.
