Jo Palmer,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is a proud supporter of sustainable agriculture and we continue to invest in industry-driven research to address emerging opportunities and challenges.
Our Government is strengthening Tasmania's future through the $3 million Agricultural Development Fund which is an important part of our Accelerating Agriculture policy.
The fund supports projects that demonstrate active partnerships with industry that have a clear pathway to deliver research outcomes for the State's farmers and contribute to sustainable growth and jobs in agriculture.
I am delighted to announce three industry projects that have been selected for the first round of funding:
- Re-use and recycling of hydroponic substrate to enable the growth of high-value agricultural production in Tasmania;
- Optimising calf raising for dairy beef production in Tasmania; and
- Development of the hoverfly, Eristalis tenax, as a complementary managed pollinator for Tasmanian cropping systems.
The Tasmanian Government is investing up to $1.36 million into these three projects, with industry co-investing $2.5 million, and I congratulate all successful applicants.
This important funding will deliver benefits and support sustainable growth across a number of key industries, including Tasmania's $506 million dairy industry, $128 million berry industry and $44 million seed production industry (2019-20).
Today's announcement is in addition to the Government's recent Agricultural Innovation Fund announcement that provided $1.69 million to four research projects that are being delivered by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture in partnership with local industry.
As a Government, we are backing our farmers and our sustainable primary industries, and this is demonstrated in our 2022-23 State Budget that is delivering for all Tasmanians.
