It will fund projects that help farmers take up innovative, transformational, and sustainable practices and technologies that support drought resilience.

The Program will pose 3 complex and multi-dimensional cross-regional, industry or system wide challenges (Appendix A) imposed by drought and climate impacts informed by industry experts, input from strategic Regional Drought Resilience Plans (RDRP) and public consultation, for applicants to respond to with innovative and tailored solutions to address the challenge. The most promising applications will then receive grant funding under the Program.

The aim of the Program is to help drive and fast-track the availability of existing and emerging high-impact drought resilience approaches, innovative practices, tools and technologies. Ultimately, farmers, agricultural sectors, regions and farming communities will benefit from accelerated access to high-impact, evidence-based innovation that can be taken up to adapt to drought and climate impacts at scale.

The Program is intended to attract innovators and researchers with technology or practices that have reached a proof of concept stage but would benefit from accelerated projects to increase the evidence base and speed of development of their innovative solution. It is anticipated that consortiums of commercial partners and innovators, farmers, farming communities, and/or other regional stakeholders will be formed based on this premise It is also hoped that the consortium approach may lead to long-term connections and networks so that benefits will be ongoing beyond the funding period.

To be eligible, the lead applicant of a consortium must be an Australian-based organisation, capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable agreement with the Commonwealth. This includes the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Local Government
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Statutory Entity

If you are applying as a trustee on behalf of a trust, the trustee must be one of the eligible entity types as listed above. Aboriginal Land Council, Aboriginal Land Trust or Torres Strait Islander Land Trust (or equivalent entity) established under Commonwealth, state or territory legislation may apply.

• Phone: 1800 020 283
• Email: support@communitygrants.gov.au