The Government is investing $40 million to support the growth of innovative food and seafood industries.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced applications are open for three key funding programs to support these local industries.

The three programs are:

• The Regional Food Producers Innovation and Productivity Program – to provide grants of between $50,000 and $2 million for projects that involve new technologies, processing or production methods in the food or seafood industries;
• The Promoting Australian Produce program – to provide grants of between $50,000 and $750,000 to help food industry bodies build their capacity to better market and promote their produce to domestic and export markets;
• The Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) program – to support national events which aim to improve efficiency along supply chains and boost innovation in the food and fibre sectors.

Grant recipients will be required to match the funding dollar-for-dollar.

“The Rudd Government recognises the role of the food and seafood industries in the nation’s economy and in rural and regional communities,” Mr Burke said.

“We need to maintain a competitive edge for our food production sector by boosting productivity right along the production chain and value-adding to capitalise on new markets.

“Better marketing and promotion will also help our high-quality food commodities compete with imported produce.”

Mr Burke said the global food crisis meant demand would continue to grow for Australian food.

Around two-thirds of Australian food commodities are exported, worth more than $23 billion in 2006-07.

“Australia can play a major role in helping to address the global food crisis – which will help to feed hungry families and also deliver opportunities for our farmers,” Mr Burke said.

“This $40 million investment is another example of the Government acting now to meet the challenges of the future.”

For more information on the application process for these programs, phone 1800 631 715 or visit www.daff.gov.au/foodinnovation; www.daff.gov.au/ausproduce and www.daff.gov.au/ausproduceevents