The second round of the Queensland Government‘s Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme has opened, and $1.3 million in funding now available to help agribusinesses build resilience through digital transformation.
The scheme offers financial support to qualified organisations for projects that result in the testing and adoption of digital solutions into supply chains in Queensland’s agriculture, fishery, and forestry sectors. These projects strengthen the sector’s resilience to potential disruptions and risks like biosecurity, climate, and food safety.
Eligible industry organisations can apply for up to $100,000 (excluding GST) in matching funds for initiatives to achieve industry-wide objectives.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said Keeping up with the undeniable advantages of emerging technologies is critical to the future viability of Queensland’s world-class agriculture industry.
Minister Furner noted that digital technology provides innovative methods to connect producers and consumers, alleviate remoteness issues in rural communities, and entice the next generation to jobs in the sector.
“That is why the Queensland Government has previously committed to $5.5 million through the Digital Transformation in Agribusiness Initiative to support agribusinesses to become digitally aware and ready to respond to future disruptions,” the Minister stated.
“Queensland agribusinesses were quick to recognise the opportunity the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme provided to enhance digital skills and drive reforms which ultimately result in more jobs across regional Queensland,” he added.
Minister Furner reported that round one of the grants scheme received 22 submissions, with nine accepted. Digital monitoring and management systems, farm data collection, real-time machine learning, and robotic solutions were among the projects funded.
