Rural
8 November, 2024
LNP sows the seeds of agriculture innovation
The LNP has announced a Queensland first agriculture innovation fund, designed to deliver cutting-edge insights and farming productivity to boost Queensland’s farm gate output to $30 billion by 2030.
The $30 million investment is designed to attract the best and brightest research opportunities to Queensland, in partnership with industry and universities under the Cooperative Research Centre model, to unearth the world’s best farming innovation.
The announcement follows the LNP’s commitment to beef up biosecurity to tackle emerging threats to agriculture, with 100 additional biosecurity officers for the regions, a review of Labor’s closure of the frontline Cape York Biosecurity Facility, and strengthening Labor’s failed fire ant eradication program.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP’s landmark Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation fund will be kickstarted with a $30 million injection, as part of the LNP’s Right Plan for Queensland’s Future.
“The LNP will cultivate an environment for research into Australian agriculture, delivering better productivity in farming and cutting-edge techniques to grow farm gate production,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Our investment will attract the biggest and brightest research opportunities and harvest opportunities to boost the future of agriculture.
“Research and development are fundamental to bringing new technology and expertise to life, and critical to the ongoing success of Queensland’s $23.6 billion agricultural industry.
“The vital work of Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been derided and devalued under Labor, but the LNP will restore Queenslanders’ trust in their role as a trusted advisor and partner to industry, not red tape and bureaucracy.”
Mr Crisafulli said the LNP’s commitment would allow for applications from universities and industry to be made to government.
“The key focus and criteria for the fund would be how Queensland growers can achieve better productivity on the farm, and ensuring our producers are at the cutting edge of agricultural technology and innovation,” he said.
“Under the LNP, Queensland will reopen for business when it comes to investment in agriculture.”
