Would-be premier David Crisafulli has promised Queensland’s agriculture sector a $30 million funding injection if the LNP forms government in this month’s state election.
The state opposition said the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation fund would help boost Queensland’s agriculture industry to $30 billion by 2030.
The industry is currently worth $23.6 billion to the state’s economy.
Speaking at the AgForce Agricultural Industry Conference in Brisbane today, LNP leader David Crisafulli said the innovation fund was a “bold vision” for the agriculture industry’s future.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli announced the fund at the AgForce Conference in Brisbane. (ABC News: Alex Brewster)
“It is about supercharging research and development in this state,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Technology, expertise and cutting edge agriculture for Queensland.”
In a statement, Mr Crisafulli said if elected, universities and those in the industry would be able to apply for the funding.
The LNP says its proposed innovation fund will boost Queensland’s agricultural industry. (ABC Rural: Maddelin McCosker)
“The key focus and criteria for the fund would be how Queensland growers can achieve better productivity on the farm,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“And ensuring our producers are at the cutting edge of agricultural technology and innovation.”
Limited details released
While the LNP has not released much detail about where the funding would come from or what the innovation fund entailed, it received a lot of interest from farmers in the Brisbane conference room today.
Many grains, such as sorghum, are grown in Queensland. (ABC Rural: Jon Daly)
Dalby grain farmer Rick Cronin said while it was good to see more funding for the industry, he had questions about how it would directly benefit producers and farmers on the ground.
“Rural is a pretty wide spectrum,” Mr Cronin said.
“Being able to have input into where it’s going to be spent, and from a primary producer point of view, making sure we have direct involvement in where that’s going.”
More investment for career pathways
Mr Cronin while it was worthwhile to have a fund allocated for research and development, other areas of the industry needed investment.
“Certainly investment in careers in agriculture would be a fairly important component within a rural innovation fund,” he said.
“Our enterprises are generational businesses so moving forward we’ve certainly got to be involved but how does the next generation fit in?
“Also, we wouldn’t want to see the rural innovation fund compete with existing research and development, or other research institutions the need to be collaborating and coexisting.”
Queenslanders will head to the polls for the state election on October 26.
