A new agricultural fellowship program will boost cooperation between farmers, researchers and industry to drive innovation in the sector.
The national veski sustainable agricultural fellowships program will provide up to $220,000 for successful projects to bring world leading specialists and researchers to Australia to work in collaboration with farmers, industry and government.
The funding will support the research and development of innovative solutions to address critical issues in the agricultural sector across Australia and promote prosperity and sustainability.
Projects could address key areas such as sustainability, food security, traceability, innovative technologies and process improvement.
Businesses, organisations and individuals throughout Australia can now submit their ideas for funding, with priority given to those located in regional areas.
veski chairman Professor Snow Barlow, who is a plant physiologist and agricultural scientist as well as a viticulturist and farmer, said innovation and collaboration could transform local economies, grow local industries and provide jobs for thousands of people throughout the nation.
“This is an opportunity to put innovative ideas into practice allowing Australians to take advantage of incredible opportunities in the food and agricultural sectors, such as the Asian dining boom, or solve complex problems facing Australian farmers from drought to logistics to processing,” Prof Barlow said.
“veski is committed to supporting collaborations and innovative thinking and is bringing a unique approach to regional communities giving them the opportunity to develop ideas through collaborative projects, and see these ideas come to fruition.”
Expressions of interest close on Thursday, April 16 and can be lodge at www.veski.org.au/agri