- Six Aboriginal enterprises share in $2.1 million from the Cook Government's Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative
- Grants to support Aboriginal enterprises establish native Seed Production Area trial sites across the Pilbara, Goldfields, and Kimberley regions
- Project to help meet increasing demand for native seed supply for land restoration, carbon farming and other biodiversity initiatives, creating new employment and training opportunities
Regional Development Minister Don Punch announced today six Aboriginal enterprises will share in $2.1 million funding to support the production of native seed for land restoration and rehabilitation across regional Western Australia.
The Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative (NNSIDI) grants will assist Aboriginal enterprises to establish native Seed Production Area trial sites for land restoration and rehabilitation across the Pilbara, Goldfields, and Kimberley regions.
Seed Production Areas are an innovative approach to meeting the increasing demand for native seed supply for land restoration, carbon farming and other biodiversity initiatives.
The NNSIDI grants will enhance Aboriginal economic opportunities and provide local, nature-based employment and training opportunities, as well as providing existing native seed industry players access to new markets and supply chains.
The initiative will inform a future restoration economy through innovation in native seed technologies, storage, treatment and testing operations and the preservation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
The Northern Native Seed Initiative is a collaboration between the Pilbara, Kimberley, and Goldfields-Esperance Development Commissions, with two grant recipients in each region.
The Cook Government has committed a total of $4.4 million to support the production of native seed for land restoration across regional WA.
For more information about the Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative, please visit www.pdc.wa.gov.au .
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative represents a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable development and Aboriginal economic empowerment.
"The six NNSIDI projects will open doors to First Nations organisations and businesses being major contributors and beneficiaries in the restoration economy, through innovation in native seed technologies and the preservation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
"With native seed demand outstripping supply, there is significant opportunity for resource companies to support and partner with NNSIDI grant recipients to drive the expansion of seed production operations into the future."
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"This announcement marks an exciting milestone in the development of a First Nations-led restoration network in regional Western Australia.
"This initiative highlights the Cook Government's dedication to environmental stewardship and the important role Indigenous knowledge and practices can play in land restoration initiatives.
"By fostering the growth of Aboriginal-owned enterprises in the native seed sector, we are contributing to the restoration of our land and creating meaningful training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal communities."
