• Total of $29 million awarded nationally for 46 innovative drought projects
• 2 key projects will get underway in Mallee to better prepare for drought
• A major milestone for the Future Drought Fund Research and Adoption program

Farmers in Mallee will benefit from a share of $29 million for projects to manage and prepare for the impacts of drought through the Morrison Joyce Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund (FDF).

Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, welcomed the federal government investment in agricultural innovation in Mallee, helping the local community and businesses prepare for future droughts.

“Two key projects are being funded here in Mallee with potential benefits for regions across the nation,” Dr Webster said.

“An innovation grant of $2,499,913 to develop robust ground cover to enable resilience in low rainfall mixed farms has been invested in Mallee Sustainable Farming. The project will provide tools for Mallee farmers to maintain resilient groundcover through all seasons and sequences to quickly regain production potential when drought breaks.

“This is one of the innovative projects across Australia with the potential to deliver broad-scale agricultural change.”

“An ideas grant of $45,454 for research and the promotion of the production of resilient native crops has been awarded to the First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation. This will facilitate innovative research to both promote and demonstrate how native crops, such as wattles, native perennial grasses and yams, can be grown under minimal irrigation.

“This is such an exciting initiative for Sunraysia. It will inform the how the region’s horticultural area can use these techniques to produce gluten-free flour and foods.

Media release from David Littleproud – Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia Page 2

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Drought Resilience Innovation Grants projects are a key part of the federal government’s investment in innovation to help agriculture become more resilient to future droughts.

“We want Australian farmers, and the communities that depend on them, to thrive through future droughts, so we’re funding new ideas, practices, technologies and ways of doing business,” Minister Littleproud said.

The grants were split into three categories: ideas grants, proof-of-concept grants, and innovation grants. Ideas grants and proof-of-concept grants are for good ideas that need some further development. Innovation grants are for projects ready to get underway.