12 October 2012
DAFF12/397L
Community, industry and government are a step closer to achieving a real difference for our environment following a Caring for our Country roundtable today.
The Government has committed more than $2 billion over five years from July 2013 to the Caring for our Country initiative.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the Sustainable Agriculture stream will be delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
“Consultation was held across the country to help shape the Sustainable Agriculture stream for the next phase of Caring for our Country,” Minister Ludwig said.
“There were more than 50 face–to–face meetings across the country and 138 submissions were received.
“The roundtable with stakeholders built on the key themes of sustainable food production, industry innovation, combating pests and weeds, building the skills of the Landcare community and improving the management of our natural resource base.
“This Sustainable Agriculture stream complements other key agricultural policies including the draft National Food Plan, the Carbon Farming Initiative and the Inter–governmental Agreement on Biosecurity.”
Feedback from the roundtable will be used to finalise the design of the Sustainable Agriculture stream including delivery, processes and guidelines for funding rounds.
“The Australian Government is committed to supporting innovative practices, helping Australian farmers remain competitive and at the cutting edge of sustainable food production,” Minister Ludwig said.
“Community capacity is also central to Landcare and we continue to support this and the valuable work of volunteers on the ground.
“It is anticipated the detailed design of the program will be announced towards the end of the year.”
