Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO1908

Australia’s soils, water, vegetation and biodiversity underpin the productivity and sustainability of agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. But these natural resources are under threat. Pressures on Australia’s natural resources can limit the viability and productivity of food and fibre businesses. The Australian Government’s National Landcare Program aims to protect, conserve and provide for the productive use of Australia’s water, soil, plants and animals and the ecosystems in which they live and interact, in partnership with industry, communities and other governments.

As the managers of around 61 per cent of the Australian landmass, farmers have an essential role in protecting and rehabilitating natural resources. Natural resources management practices that improve and protect the condition of soil, water, vegetation and biodiversity also assist farming, forestry and fishing industries to adapt to significant changes in climate, weather and markets.

The principal component of the National Landcare Program administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is Smart Farms. Smart Farms will run to 2022–23. It is made up of three elements: 

• Smart Farming Partnerships—will invest $55 million through two rounds of competitive grants into medium to large scale projects to encourage the development, trial and roll-out of innovative tools and farm practices.

• Smart Farms Small Grants—is a $55 million competitive small grants program over several rounds to support the adoption of best practices that improves the management and quality of our natural resources and increases on-farm productivity.

• Building Landcare Community and Capacity—will invest $24 million to support the sharing of knowledge and achievements, and promote community leadership.

To be eligible to apply for a grant you must be an individual or an organisation capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable agreement with the Commonwealth. Eligible legal entities include the following entity types: 

• Commonwealth company

• Company

• Cooperative

• Corporate Commonwealth entity

• Corporate state or territory entity

• Incorporated association

• Indigenous corporation

• Individual or natural person

• International entity

• Local government

• Non-corporate state or territory entity or statutory authority

• Partnership

• Sole trader

• Statutory entity

• Trustee on behalf of a trust.
  

Applications from consortia are acceptable, as long as you have a lead applicant who is eligible and who will be solely accountable to the Commonwealth for the delivery of grant activities.

For more information, on the eligibility criteria please refer the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

To apply go to the application form here

PLEASE NOTE: The Community Grants Hub Helpdesk (1800 020 283) will be unavailable from 12:30pm AEDT Monday, 24 December 2018 to 8:30am AEDT Wednesday, 2 January 2019. Grant application enquiries can still be submitted to support@communitygrants.gov.au, however these will be actioned from 8:30am AEDT Wednesday, 2 January 2019.