$30 million to boost drought resilience in regional and rural Australia

The Albanese Labor Government continues to support farmers and rural communities to strengthen their resilience to drought, with $30 million in funding being delivered through two new programs of the Future Drought Fund.

Over $19.3 million will be delivered to 13 projects through the Drought Resilience Innovation Challenges Pilot Program.

This will connect farmers, producers and regional and rural communities to evidence-based innovation, technology and tools that will help improve climate and drought resilience.

This includes the development of an AI-driven soil microbiome analysis platform, which will help farmers improve fertiliser efficiency and reduce water consumption.

Five projects will share in $11.4 million through the Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country grant program, with delivery partners to work with communities to identify local priorities, co-design projects and build local capability.

Projects include developing a drought sensitivity mapping tool that blends cultural and ecological knowledge, and rewilding wetlands as drought and cultural refuges that hold food, fibre and medicine values.

This grant program was established in response to the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to include First Nations people in the Future Drought Fund and to broader government priorities to boost economic participation and foster genuine partnerships with First Nations peoples.

The Albanese Labor Government has invested more than $1.3 billion in rural support and drought resilience measures to help farmers prepare for, adapt to, and recover from challenging conditions since July 2022.

These new Future Drought Fund projects will roll out across Australia over the next 2 years.

For more information, visit: Future Drought Fund - DAFF

Drought Resilience and Innovation Challenges Pilot Program grant recipients:

• Arca Sustainability Pty Ltd: $286,605 
• Australian Fodder Industry Association Limited: $1,690,000  
• Berries Australia Limited: $813,006  
• Deakin University: $1,186,850 
• Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (Victoria): $1,624,436  
• Desert Channels Queensland Ltd: $1,401,500 
• James Cook University: $1,599,407 
• Mallee Sustainable Farming Ltd: $1,997,000 
• Mollongghip & District Enterprises Pty Ltd - $1,972,625 
• Outback Academy Australia Limited: $1,943,000 
• Riverine Plains Incorporated: $1,986,020 
• Seed Force Pty Ltd: $982,049 
• The University of Newcastle: $1,904,166

Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country grant recipients:

• Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC: $1,600,000  
• K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation Limited: $2,800,000  
• Northern Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance Limited: $2,000,000  
• Tiwi Resources Pty Ltd: $3,000,000  
• Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre Aboriginal Corporation: $2,000,000  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Our Government continues to work with our agricultural industry and regional communities to help them prepare for, manage through and recover from drought.

“This funding through the Future Drought Fund will give farmers and communities access to innovative and capacity-building practices.

“These projects will help farmers and producers to boost their resilience, and to remain productive during challenging conditions.

“We heard about the benefits of supporting region-specific priorities at our National Drought Forum last year, which is why this funding is backing projects that will be developed for and with local communities.”