Community & Business
13 October, 2024
New fund aimed at ag productivity
AN agriculture innovation fund designed to deliver cutting-edge insights and farming productivity to boost Queensland’s farm gate output to $30 billion by 2030 will become a reality if the LNP is elected on 26 October.
The $30 million investment is designed to attract the best and brightest research opportunities to Queensland, in partnership with industry and universities under the Cooperative Research Centre model, to unearth the world’s best farming innovation.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the landmark Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation fund would be kickstarted with a $30 million injection.
“The LNP will cultivate an environment for research into Australian agriculture, delivering better productivity in farming and cutting-edge techniques to grow farm gate production,” he said.
“Our investment will attract the biggest and brightest research opportunities and harvest opportunities to boost the future of agriculture.
“Research and development are fundamental to bringing new technology and expertise to life, and critical to the ongoing success of Queensland’s $23.6 billion agricultural industry.”
Mr Crisafulli said the LNP’s commitment would allow for applications from universities and industry to be made to government.
“The key focus and criteria for the fund would be how Queensland growers can achieve better productivity on the farm, and ensuring our producers are at the cutting edge of agricultural technology and innovation,” he said.
“Under the LNP, Queensland will reopen for business when it comes to investment in agriculture.”
The announcement follows the LNP’s commitment to beef-up biosecurity to tackle emerging threats to agriculture, with 100 additional biosecurity officers for the regions, and a review of the closure of the frontline Cape York Biosecurity Facility.
