Sustainable Farming Fund Grants Announced
NEW ZEALAND - The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) has approved funding for 71 new grants totalling $9.5 million over three years to support grass roots action by farmers, growers and foresters.New grants are spread geographically across the country and focus on issues ranging from new pest management tools, organic production, improving nutrient management, promoting pastoral persistence, improving water use efficiency and eliminating quarantine pests to the introduction of biological controls and the investigation of non-chemical controls.
The Fund was set up in 2000 to fund projects that contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of New Zealand’s land-based primary industries. To date the SFF has supported nearly 700 projects involving all sectors and interests.
This funding has been matched in cash and in-kind by industry, community groups and individuals. Each year the fund is heavily oversubscribed and only the top applications are funded.
MAF’s Director of Natural Resources Mike Jebson says the SFF partners with all of New Zealand’s land-based primary industries and continues to be driven by strong collaboration.
“All projects receiving government funding are underpinned by significant contribution from the industry, community groups and individuals.
“The Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) continues to be driven by strong communities of interest. It has a keen focus on environmental sustainability and plays a crucial role in attempting to plug a gap in transferring knowledge and technology to our farmers, growers and foresters throughout the country.
Find out more about successful SFF Fund Projects at www.maf.govt.nz/agriculture/funding-programmes/sustainable-farming-fund
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