News in brief

Grants of $50,000 will be offered to 20 emerging ag tech start-ups to help them move to the next stage of growth.

An additional $300,000 AgTech Angel Network Grant will support the establishment of Victoria’s first dedicated specified agriculture Angel Network to invest in Victorian ag tech start-ups.

The funding will also help ensure the state’s best early-stage ag tech founders get immediate access to capital, while also building ag tech start-up investment capabilities in the private sector.

For more about AgRIN, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/AgRIN or to apply for new grants visit launchvic.org

Farming land under threat

Farmers have faced years of uncertainty because of complex red tape that threatens food production, according to NSW Farmers.

NSW Farmers vice-president Rebecca Reardon said there was an urgent need for clarity and co-ordination from government so farmers could get on with the job of growing food and fibre without worrying about inaccurate maps and “indecipherable” restrictions.

“It’s simply not good enough for government to slap a restrictive map layer nearly the size of Tasmania over the state’s best farmland, and then drag their feet for over two-and-a-half years failing to give farmers clear guidelines on what they can and can’t do on their land,” Mrs Reardon said.

“This is why we’re calling for a truly independent, fully-resourced agriculture commission to call out this sort of nonsense and be a source of truth to pull government agencies back into line.”

According to the farmer group’s analysis, more than half a million hectares — or two thirds of land identified as State Significant Agricultural Land — of farmland was listed as containing critically endangered ecological communities and at the same time was covered in petroleum exploration licences.

Only 30 per cent of State Significant Agricultural Land had no competing land uses listed, it said.

Citrus growers urged to regroup

After facing some of the most challenging years in recent history, Australian citrus growers will be encouraged to ‘review, respond and relaunch’ at the 2023 Citrus Australia Market Outlook Forum.

This year’s annual forum will be held in Mildura from March 7 to 9.

Citrus Australia chief executive officer Nathan Hancock said the speaking program had been tailored to provide growers with the latest market intelligence on global trends impacting supply costs, likely influences on domestic and global markets, competitor analysis and international requirements on sustainability.

International keynote speakers include Paul Hardman, from South Africa’s Citrus Research International, who will provide insight into the factors behind the aggressive growth of the South African citrus industry, one of Australia’s Southern Hemisphere competitors.

Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters chair Charif Cristian Carvajal will provide an overview of Southern Hemisphere production and export trends, and how this could shape opportunity for Australian exports.

David Porta, of Spanish packaging company, Giro, will share insights into the latest sustainability trends in packaging from Spain, in light of increased demands from consumers.

For more information, visit: www.citrusaustralia.com.au/mof2023

Flood study review to start

The Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study will be updated with new data from the October 2022 flood event.

Started in 2018, the flood study is a joint project between Campaspe Shire and Murray River councils, in conjunction with the Victorian North Central Catchment Management Authority, Department of Environment Energy and Climate Action, and NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

The councils were about to seek community feedback on the draft study when the 2022 flood occurred.

Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos said both councils agreed to defer community consultation on the draft study to enable data from the 2022 flood event to inform the flood model.

Cr Amos said data from the 2022 flood could “now be used to recalibrate modelling in the existing flood study which was based on data from the 1993 flood event, the last time that the Murray, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers’ flooding coincided”.

“This will enable potential future flood mitigation measures, warning systems and triggers to be developed based on the latest information.”

The revised draft Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study will be finished and placed on public exhibition in late 2023.

Farm2Fork Summit is back

The international food and agriculture event, the Farm2Fork Summit, will be held in Sydney on March 23.

Last staged in 2019, the summit will bring together more than 1600 local and overseas farmers, food and agribusiness corporates and ag tech start-ups, along with prominent agriculture, science and technology researchers and innovators.

Convened by Rabobank, the one-day invitation-only event will cover topics including:

Presenters will include former Unilever global chief executive officer Paul Polman, Rabobank global chairman Stefaan Decraene, Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin, US dairy producer Hans Nederend Jr, John Deere managing director Australia/New Zealand Luke Chandler, CSIRO Agriculture and Food deputy director Professor Michelle Colgrave, 2022 Young Farmer of the Year Brad Egan, New Zealand lamb producer Lucy Macdonald and Sundown Pastoral Company/Good Earth Cotton’s Danielle and David Statham.

The program will also include the presentation of the 2023 Rabobank Leadership Awards.