The Australian Government is expanding the focus of the eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs across the country to catalyse agricultural innovation, drive commercialisation and create jobs.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Australian Government was providing a further $20 million to develop regionally focused and responsive innovation and adoption strategies and to undertake activities.
“This investment is the next phase in the evolution of the Drought Hubs from being just drought focused to being focused on innovation more broadly,” Minister Littleproud said.
“These hubs are key to unlocking the potential of the agricultural innovation system, enabling people to collaborate and deliver regionally targeted productivity gains.
“The hubs will further build connections between researchers, technology developers, investors, producers and agribusinesses to drive innovation and digital technology uptake across industry and the supply-chain.
“The hubs will always be a shopfront for farmers to access innovative technologies and practices that enable them to be more prepared and resilient to drought.
“Now, as part of the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda, we are extending their remit into broader agricultural innovation activities and outcomes.
“Expanding the existing Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs beyond their current remit of drought resilience into broader agricultural innovation activities and outcomes is a key part of the agenda.
“The Hubs already provide an important physical platform for stakeholders from across the agricultural innovation system to come together and translate research and knowledge to make real impact on the ground.
“Now they can extend their plans beyond drought preparedness and bring additional stakeholders from the broader agricultural innovation system into that process.
“We will be working with the Hubs over the coming months to co-design and determine how they can expand to support the delivery of the priorities.
“We will continue provide the right conditions and help the agricultural sector to modernise, improve, innovate and grow.”
For more details about the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda visit here.
