Farming Together: Rural Awards, Grants and Funding opportunities
19/9/2017
Farming Together – is a great resource for primary producers to help value-add, build marketplace strength and boost returns.
Farming Together is a great Australian Government resource that sends out a monthly newsletter with links to events, grant and award applications and other opportunities across the agriculture sector.Visit www.farmingtogether.com.au or https://www.facebook.com/farmingtogetherprogram to sign up for the newsletter, here is a taste of this months content:
RURAL WOMEN AWARD NOW OPEN
Applications for 2018 #AgriFuturesAU Rural Women's Award open 14 Sept http://www.agrifutures.com.au/people-leadership/rural-womens-award
BIOSECURITY AWARD FOR FARMERS
Farmers are now eligible for nomination for excellence in on-farm biosecurity practices in this year’s Australian Biosecurity Awards. Other categories include industry, government and lifetime achievement award. Deadline 20 October. For more info visit the Australian Biosecurity Awards.
NEW HORT FUND OPEN
Hort Innovation has launched a multi-million-dollar initiative and is looking to partner with suitable co-investors and research providers – such as universities and technology companies – to deliver a host of new projects through the Advanced Production Systems Fund. http://horticulture.com.au/major-initiative-to-drive-aussie-smart-farms
DAIRY START-UP PITCH SOUGHT
Businesses, individuals and public/private organisations are sought for a 'Shark Tank' style competition which will see up to 10 finalists selected to present at Australian Dairy Conference in Melbourne 2018 to a panel of judges and conference audience. Deadline 2 October. http://www.australiandairyconference.com.au/viewStory/The+Pitch
SOCIAL CHANGEMAKERS AWARD
Social entrepreneurs in the fields of water, nutrition and rural development are sought for the 2018 Changemakers awards, an international competition backed by Nestle offering prizes totalling CHF 500,000 ($A657,585) Deadline 31 October. https://www.changemakers.com/creatingsharedvalue
SHEEPMEAT LEADERS SOUGHT
The Sheepmeat Council of Australia is seeking nominees for the Sheepmeat Industry Leadership Program, valued at more than $10,000. Deadline 23 October. www.sheepmeatcouncil.com.au/SILP.
LOOKING FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Nominations are open for the national regional Young Entrepreneur Awards which celebrate emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders born in 1977 or later. Agri-ventures qualify under manufacturing, start-up and social categories. Visit the nomination panel and click on ‘Regional’ CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE AN ENTREPRENEUR or CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE AN ENTREPRENEUR
AG WOMEN IN CONFERENCE
The Australian Women in Agriculture conference in Brisbane, September 22-24 will see our program director Lorraine Gordon among the speakers examining innovation, sustainability, profitability and farmer health. http://www.awia.org.au
ACCELERATING AG-TECH
CSIRO's ON accelerate program offers up to $15K in OPEX and the possibility of another $10K for technology-based startups. Deadline October 13.
http://oninnovation.com.au/en/Programs/ON-Accelerate
FLYING START
Jetset is offering $15K plus $15K travel for projects that enrich the lives of people in the local community. Deadline 30 September 2017.
http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/flyingstart
EXPORT GRANTS FROM AUSTRADE
AUSTRADE’s Export Market Development Grants reimburse up to 50% of eligible export promotion expenses over $5K if total expenses are at least $15K. Up to eight grants per eligible applicant. Ongoing. https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Export/Export-Grants
2017 FARMER OF THE YEAR SOUGHT
Nominations are being sought nationally for The Weekly Times Coles 2017 Farmer of the Year awards in the following categories: Beef, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep and innovative farmers of the year. From the winners of these six categories, one farmer will ultimately be crowned Farmer of the Year. Each category winner will receive $5K in prizes, with the Farmer of the Year receiving $10K cash. Winners will be announced in February.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/farmer-of-the-year/the-weekly-times-coles-2017-farmer-of-the-year-awards-nominations-now-open/news-story/be87d9a2ec457aa4da87881c21214151
$22K FOR YOUNG AG INNOVATORS
Applications are now open for the 2018 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. People aged 18-35 can apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue that will benefit Australia’s primary industries. There are 11 categories: cotton; dairy; established, new and emerging rural industries; fisheries and aquaculture; grains; health and biosecurity; meat and livestock; pork; red meat processing; viticulture and oenology and wool. Winners of the industry category are then invited to apply for the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources’ Award, which provides additional funding for an extended research project. Deadline Friday 13 October. Read more online at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/conferences-events/scienceawards or phone 02 6272 2303.
CALLING ALL REGIONAL LEADERS
The Regional Australia Leadership Assembly will be held in Canberra as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. The free afternoon event will be held on October 20 in the Visions Theatre, National Museum of Australia, Lawson Cres, Acton ACT. http://rural-leaders.org.au/events/25th-anniversary-celebrations
THINKING OF DIVERSIFYING?
Ever considered bush food? One of our funded projects is a national roadshow run by by Australian Native Food & Botanicals (ANFAB) , representing 200 growers/harvesters.
The roadshows are at:
• Broome WA 7-8 October
• Port Hedland WA October TBA
• Alice Springs NT 19 October
• Perth WA November TBA
• Darwin NT 21-23 November (in conjunction with the NT NRM Conference)
• New Norfolk TAS 27-28 November
• Melbourne VIC February 2018
For more info Visit: www.anfab.org.au
CO-OPS MADE SIMPLE
Could you be a co-op? If there's five of you who want the benefits of a co-op structure, including tax benefits, visit the FREE online DIY co op builder at www.farmingtogether.com.au. There's a clickthrough on the second slider picture, or click to the page at Resources.
CLUNIES ROSS AWARDS OPEN
Awards for the Entrepreneur of the Year, Knowledge Commercialisation and Innovation through the Clunies Ross Awards. Deadline 27 October. https://www.atse.org.au/atse/content/about/clunies-ross-award-nominations.aspx
NEW LISTINGS MAKE AG-SEARCH EASIER
Need an ag-expert … but don’t know where to start? Farming groups using the Farming Together expert support service now have an easier way to find choose their consultants. The 180 advisors selected for Farming Together are now listed by their areas of expertise as well as the standard alphabetical listing. You can research your preferred expert at https://agworks.com.au/about-the-program/consultants-by-service Want to use the Farming Together free expert support service? Register at www.farmingtogether.com.au
LION PARTNERSHIPS OFFERED
A 12-week accelerator program, Lion Unleashed, is an initiative partnering startups and entrepreneurs with food/beverage giant Lion, exchanging equity for up to $50K and mentoring.More? https://www.lionco.com/media-centre/lion-launches-start-up
AG-PRENEURS GET HELPING HAND
Agribusinesses have been swift to take up the opportunities of the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs Program which offers support through: : Accelerating Commercialisation; Business Management; Innovation Connections and Incubator Support. For more info visit Entrepreneurs’ Programme
WINE SCHOLARSHIPS ON OFFER
The Wine Australia R&D Fund offers support for targeted research and development projects, and study and travel scholarships. Funding is available to support a number of activities including: travel and visiting scholars’ bursaries as well as PhD, masters and honours scholarships. Ongoing. More? Wine Australia - Research and Development
DAIRY FOOD INNOVATORS AID
The Young Dairy Network Australia is offering a 50% bursary of 50% for young dairy people with successful applications to the Young Food Innovators Program, a 12-month intensive, accelerated development program for young people working in primary producer sectors. For more info email dgresham@dairyaustralia.com.au
$1.65m FOR EXPORT AID
Looking for financial assistance for an export project? The Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) project has $1.65m to allocate in 2017/18. And it drops to $55K in 2018/19. More? http://www.agriculture.gov.au/market-access-trade/atmac#available-funding
SUPPLY CHAIN SMARTS ON OFFER
The Australian Government’s Supply Chain Facilitation Assistance program offers free access to a skilled advisor to strengthen supply chains and improve access new markets. You must have been trading in at least three successive years with turnover (or operating expenditure) in the current, or one of the last two financial years, of more than $1.5m ($750,000 for applicants from remote or northern Australia), however producers not meeting eligibility rules can still register for information events. For more info Phone 13 28 46
TOP TRAINING RECOGNISED
The national Australian Training Awards recognise excellence in training. Ag-related businesses have been pre-eminent in the industry collaboration award of past years, and there are separate sections for small, medium and large employers. For more info https://www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au
INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS GRANTS
Grants of up to $20K are offered by the Australian government for community organisations to set up spaces offering students hands-on experience blending science, technology, engineering and maths with entrepreneurship. Ongoing until funds exhausted. For more info click through to https://www.business.gov.au/Assistance/Inspiring-Australia-Science-Engagement/Maker-Projects
INCUBATORS INCUBATION
The Incubator Support initiative helps establish new incubators in regions or sectors with high innovation potential, and for existing incubators looking to expand their services. More? www.business.gov.au/incubator-support
CSIRO AG/FOOD SCHOLARSHIPS
Postgraduate Scholarships - Agriculture and Food will be valued at $7K/year, plus a $10K/year operating budget. You must have (or expect to gain) first class honours or equivalent in a relevant research area; admission to an Australian university as a PhD student; a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or university equivalent; and an university supervisor to supervise you. For More visit www.csiro.au
MLA AID FOR FUTURE MEAT INNOVATIONS
Beef, lamb and goat meat producers can get expertise, co-funding and support through the MLA Donor Company’s Producer Innovation Fast-Track. The program can co-invest up to 75% of costs and offers future-focussed producers access to the latest R&D and innovations in livestock production and technical and business expertise. www.mla.com.au/fasttrack
COLLABORATIVE MARKET PROGRAM FOR HORT
Expressions of interest are sought for Hort Innovation's Australia Fresh Collaborative Market Development Program. Firms are sought to partner with Hort Innovation to deliver a multi country, multi industry coordinated export development program involving tradeshows, an in-bound education/buyer trade mission and one out-bound market visit as well as trade communication development. Deadline 2pm (Sydney time), April 26, 2018. More? Hort Innovation has prepared an Expression of Interest (EOI) document which is available from www.tenders.net
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN
The ‘behind closed doors’ scholarships provide professional development, mentoring and networking opportunities in an environment specifically tailored to women. Annual scholarships are offered in the categories of Executive Assistant, Luminaries and Entrepreneurs. Scholarships provide a 12-month membership. More http://behindcloseddoors.com/scholarships
This is just a sample of the opportunities listed in Farming Together's September email newsletter, for the full newsletter content including state based links or to subscribe please click here
