Grants to drive agricultural growth

Friday, 1 July 2016 

• $6.7 million in State Government investment to support 20 new projects
• Part of the $22.1 million Royalties for Regions Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund 

Increasing exports of Western Australian barley to Asian brewers and a strategy to increase premium wine exports are among a range of new projects supported by the Liberal National Government to drive agricultural growth.
Agriculture and Food Minister Dean Nalder and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman today announced grants to not-for-profit farmer driven organisations totalling $6.7 million across 20 projects.
"These grants are across a range of areas and form part of the State Government's broader commitment to grow the agrifood sector and capitalise on increasing demand for safe, high-quality food," Mr Nalder said.
"The local groups are co-investing in these initiatives. Wines of Western Australia will use their grant to identify the best pathways to grow the State's premium wine exports.
"Building on existing relationships in Asia, the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association will integrate market intelligence and on-farm agronomic advantages to position WA malting barley as the preferred supply source for Asian brewers."
The grants are part of the Liberal National Government's Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund, made possible by the Royalties for Regions Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative.
Mr Redman said the initiative was focused on increasing economic growth in regional communities.
"WA is being increasingly recognised internationally as a potential investment destination for agribusiness due to its availability of land, water and climatic conditions suitable for a wide range of agricultural produces," he said.
"The grants are part of the $22.1 million Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund, made possible by Royalties for Regions' $350 million Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative and will help generate long-term improvements to agribusiness in WA."
Additional projects remain under consideration in the first round of grants, and a second funding round through the fund will open later this year.
Fact File

• The Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund is one of 15 programs under the $350 million Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative
• For more information, visit https://www.agric.wa.gov.au