- The Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration will support local farmers to transition to more sustainable farming practices, improve reef water quality and develop a future regional food hub in Cairns.
- The 5-year project represents a $3.5 million investment, jointly funded by the Palaszczuk Government and Sustainable Table.
An innovative new project is set to enhance soil and land management practices, improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef and help secure the Far North’s future food supply.
The Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration will be delivered through a partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and not-for-profit organisation Sustainable Table.
Both organisations will provide $1.5 million each in funding towards the project over the next five years, with Sustainable Table also committing up to $500,000 in-kind support.
The collaboration will support horticultural land managers on the Tablelands transition to more sustainable farming practices, helping to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef by reducing harmful farm run-off.
The project also aims to develop a future regional food hub in Cairns, integrating regenerative practices, such as increasing biodiversity and enriching soil in the Tablelands food production area within the Cairns market.
The food hub will support a circular economy approach to food production as well as facilitating research and development, employment upskilling, and knowledge sharing and learning.
The Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration will be delivered across four key phases.
It will start with Sustainable Table gathering an in-depth understanding of the local context, opportunities, and blockages for regenerative agriculture in the region.
This will be followed by a process to identify stakeholders, potential opportunities, and initiatives for implementation, and a funding program to enable on farm regenerative agricultural practices to be implemented on-ground.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:
“The Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration ticks a lot of boxes for the Palaszczuk Government.
“It will help deliver benefits to growers through improved agricultural management practices.
“It will enhance water quality on the Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the three major threats to the reef, by reducing harmful farm run-off and it will help build a circular economy, where materials are reused, recycled or re-manufactured more, and less waste is produced in the first place.
“This project provides a unique opportunity to leverage investment, while increasing stewardship, improving soil and land management as well as delivering the co-benefits of a circular economy, natural capital and local economy support.”
Quotes attributable to Sustainable Table Chief Executive Officer, Jade Miles:
“Sustainable Table is delighted to partner with the Queensland Government in this exciting new project.
“Our mission is to transform food and fibre systems by aligning farming to a more regenerative way of production, including facilitating collaboration and learning between stakeholders.
“We believe this provides a whole-of-system and holistic approach to farming, making the sector more productive, profitable and sustainable over the long term.
“As the food bowl for north and far north Queensland, Atherton Tablelands horticultural producers are in an ideal position to benefit from this exciting project and the changes it will bring.”
