Funding for expansion of game-changing hubs

Southern NSW Innovation Hub Director Cindy Cassidy with Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud (right) and Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack.

Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub was at the forefront of major announcements on Monday, January 31, 2022 which will see the Hub’s remit expanded beyond drought and a Regional Soil Coordinator working within the Hub’s network.

Southern NSW Innovation Hub hosted Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud and Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack at Charles Sturt University for the announcements and a tour of the university’s National Life Sciences Hub.

Minister Littleproud announced the $20 million funding boost which will be made available to the eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs to expand beyond their drought remit and drive innovation.

“These hubs are a game-changer for regional Australia, enabling farmers to work together with experts to come up with new solutions that will work for their regions,” Minister Littleproud said.

He encouraged producers, researchers, investors, technology developers to work with hubs to drive innovation and digital technology uptake supporting the agricultural industry to modernise, improve and innovate.

Minister Littleproud also announced $3 million for eight new Regional Soil Coordinators to be based at each of the innovation hubs across Australia.

“This is a $3 million initiative that will deliver down to earth support to Australian farmers,” Minister Littleproud said.

“We are giving farmers and land managers the tools and information they need to protect and improve the foundation of Australian agriculture, our soils.

Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs are funded by the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund, providing networks for researchers, primary producers and community groups to improve drought resilience at the local level.

Director of the Southern NSW Innovation Hub Ms Cindy Cassidy said the additional funding will provide scope for the Hub to work with farmers and agriculturally-focussed communities across the range of opportunities that will improve profitability and sustainability.

“The establishment of the regional Innovation Hubs represents a step change in the way we think about and undertake research, extension and commercialisation to support the adoption of productive, profitable and sustainable practices on farms and in our regional communities,” she said.

“The Southern NSW Innovation Hub is a partnership led by Charles Sturt University, with a focus on linking the people of our region with the tools, technologies and systems that they need to make the most of the good times and respond effectively to hard times, like drought.”

Find out more about the Hub https://research.csu.edu.au/engage-with-us/research-impact/southern-nsw-drought-resilience-hub