In a significant move to enhance the future of Australia’s horticulture industry, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Horticulture Council is pleased to announce the 20 successful applicants for the National Horticulture Roadshow grant program.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and delivered by the NFF Horticulture Council, this initiative is set to fund and promote a series of exceptional industry events across the country, driving innovation and community engagement.
The grants range from $10,000 to $40,000 with events set to take place in Victoria, South Australia, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, ACT and Western Australia over the next 12 months.
The events include a diverse range of activities such as field days, symposiums, conferences and trade shows across a huge range of commodities. These events aim to foster community engagement, promote sustainable practices and showcase innovation within the horticulture industry.
NFF Horticulture Council Chair, Jolyon Burnett, congratulated this year’s successful recipients noting the high level of interest and exceptional applications made the selection process particularly difficult.
“The high calibre of applications demonstrates the dedication and passion within our horticultural communities. We are thrilled to support these events that will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of the industry,” said Mr Burnett
“The total amount of funding sought across all applications was $1.8M, more than triple the amount available for allocation, highlighting the significant demand and enthusiasm for this program.”
Details of the successful events and further information about the National Horticulture Roadshow can be found here.
Quotes from successful grant applicants
Berries Australia
Rachel Mackenzie, Executive Director at Berries Australia, said support through the Roadshow for BerryQuest International 2025, a four-day event being held in Tasmania this coming February, would be instrumental in delivering even greater value for attendees at the pivotal event for the Australian berry industry.
“Berry Quest aims to inspire growers to adopt sustainable, resilient, and competitive strategies while improving workforce outcomes. We’ll be applying funding through the Roadshow to spotlight advancements in horticultural practices and technology, for growers to pick up and adopt tomorrow,” said Ms Mackenzie.
“We are very proud as an industry of what BerryQuest has become and our record of attracting leading thinkers and a great diversity of growers. Being part of the Roadshow is recognition of the hard work behind the scenes building this event up over the years and hopefully the additional profile acts to attract an even wider audience.”
Melons Australia
Johnathon Davey, CEO at Melons Australia, said the opportunity of featuring on the Roadshow will drive cross-sectoral connections and will be integral in fostering greater collaboration between parts of the horticulture industry.
“Melons Australia has successfully delivered roadshows across the nation using levy funds from the Hort Innovation Melon Fund and funds from the Australian Government. In continuing to grow these successful events, we will be delivering a bigger and broader event in Bundaberg with the additional support from the National Horticulture Roadshow program that will be relevant to a wide group of growers, beyond just melon growers,” said Mr Davey.
“Bundaberg and the Wide Bay is a dynamic and diverse growing region, and we see it as an ideal location to profile new innovations and practices that are applicable across a number of commodities.”
Source: National Farmers Federation