The Tasmanian Government invests in agricultural Research, Development and Extension (RD&E).
Funding opportunities
Agricultural Innovation Fund
The $3 million Agricultural Innovation Fund (AIF) was launched in 2019 to address emerging opportunities and issues likely to have a direct impact on Tasmanian agriculture. A further $2 million was allocated to the AIF in the 2023-24 Tasmanian Budget. The AIF supports projects that are delivered in partnership with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
Funds in the AIF allocated through the same grant round process as the Agricultural Development Fund. A list of projects that have been funded through the AIF and the Agricultural Development Fund is provided below.
ADF and AIF successful projects (PDF 123Kb)
Agricultural Development Fund
The Tasmanian Government's Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), launched on 22 July 2021, is investing $3 million in RD&E projects that will promote innovation and sustainable growth in Tasmanian agriculture.
Funding is for projects that will deliver broad benefits to Tasmania and the state's agricultural sector; have strong support and partnership from industry; and demonstrate a clear strategy to deliver on-farm impacts.
Other funding of Agricultural RD&E
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)
The Tasmanian Government provides $5 million per annum in base funding to the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA).
TIA was established through a Joint Venture Agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania. For more than two decades, the Government has supported world-class agricultural RD&E and education through TIA that is delivering practical, on-farm benefits to our state’s agri-food producers.
Pastures and Livestock Productivity Project
$648,000 over three years has been allocated to the Pastures and Livestock Productivity Project. Funding has been allocated from the Tasmanian Government's Sustainable Agri-Food Plan 2019-23, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
Tasmania’s Research Farm Capacity
The Tasmanian Government committed $7 million in the 2018-19 State Budget to modernise Crown and TIA research farms and make them centres of excellence for practical research and demonstration. So far, the Government has allocated $5.75 million to upgrades at the Elliott, Forthside and Cressy Research Facilities, with additional co-contributions from the University of Tasmania. The Government’s plan for using Tasmania’s research farms to support RD&E is set out in the Plan for Tasmania’s Research Farm Capacity.
Extension Accelerator
The Tasmanian Government provided $144,000 to deliver the Extension Accelerator Program in partnership with TIA. The professional development program was delivered over 2020 and 2021, and aimed to build extension capacity within Tasmanian agriculture in partnership with industry.
Strategic Industry Partnership Program
Since 2017-18, the Tasmanian Government has committed $4.15 million for the Strategic Industry Partnerships Program (SIPP). This includes the 2021-22 State Budget announcement of a further $2 million to the SIPP. The SIPP supports regional communities and businesses by investing in peak industry bodies to drive growth and innovation across the Tasmanian agri-food sector.
The SIPP provides funding for a diverse range of projects including industry RD&E.