ROSEWORTHY’S “drought hub” that aims to better prepare farmers for drought and improve resilience will benefit from another round of federal funding.
The federal government is providing $9 million through the Future Drought Fund “to put boots on the ground in regional Australia” and give farmers practical help applying for the latest in drought-resilience innovation and technology.
The South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub – one of eight nationally – is headquartered at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus and supported by five regional “nodes” at Loxton, Minnipa, Orroroo, Port Augusta and Struan.
Agriculture and Northern Australia Minister David Littleproud said in March a new national network of adoption officers would be based across the eight hubs.
“Locals know their regional communities and needs better than anyone and that’s why key roles, like Adoption Officers are best in these communities,” Mr Littleproud said.
“This investment is equal to 20 new full-time jobs in regional Australia to support agriculture to prepare for the next drought that will inevitably come."
Mr Littleproud said adoption officers would engage with farmers to help with the uptake of new practices and technologies, provide feedback to the hubs on what farmers wanted, and support farmers to use tools developed by the Future Drought Fund, such as Climate Services for Agriculture.
Each hub would also receive a $2.5 million boost to expand their activities to deliver broader innovation outcomes beyond drought, including for fisheries and aquaculture, he said.
“This funding will allow hubs and their key stakeholders to identify activities under the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda targeting exports, climate resilience, biosecurity, and digital agriculture for their region,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The hubs have over 40 locations across Australia, and I encourage all farmers to engage with them to assist build drought resilience, productivity and sustainability of agriculture.”
In April last year, the state government announced it would contribute $4.4 million towards the Roseworthy hub.
The state’s hub was developed in partnership with the federal government and the three South Australian universities.
For more information, visit awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/drought/future-drought-fund/research-adoption-program/adoption-innovation-hubs.