Agriculture Resilience and Recovery Program

Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas MP, visited NGIV member Mt William Advanced Tree Nursery today to announce a $5.3 million Agriculture Resilience and Recovery Program targeting businesses in rural and regional Victoria.

The Agriculture Resilience and Recovery Program supports farm and food processing businesses to develop long-term solutions to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This program will help fast-track the recovery process for agriculture and food supply chain businesses as they adapt to new operating conditions, attract and retain their workforce and prepare for future challenges.

Grants of $10,000 to $300,000 are available to provide on-farm infrastructure, business upgrades or new facilities, as well as accommodation and support services for the agricultural workforce to adapt to changing environments and meet COVIDSafe standards.

The program has three streams:

- The Business Resilience and Recovery stream will support businesses to adapt their operations to maintain production and manage risks through the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Place-based Worker Support stream will support the development of COVIDSafe worker accommodation
- The Training and Education stream will provide support for farm and food processing workers to access information and services, and ensure businesses are providing COVIDSafe work practices.

The Program provides funding to farm businesses, food processing businesses, local governments, not-for-profit community organisations and accommodation providers in rural and regional Victoria.

The Agriculture Resilience and Recovery program is open for applications now. Applications can be made until 31 December 2021 or until the funds are expended – whichever comes first.

A number of our members received funding through the Business Adaptation Grants, including Mt William Advanced Tree Nursery, to assist eligible businesses to meet the costs of adapting workplaces to comply with health, safety and social distancing requirements or adapting to required business changes imposed as a result of the pandemic. We recommend our regional and rural members consider applying if eligible.