NZ funding to promote sustainable resource use in primary sector

New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is opening two funding rounds this month to promote sustainable resource use in the primary industries. MPI’s Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) provides co-funding for small to medium-scale innovation projects.

Today, MPI opened a special SFF round for Maori agribusiness which will offer $1 million of co-investment funding for projects that encourage sustainable resource use in Maori agribusiness. MPI has committed to undertake activities that specifically foster opportunities for Maori agribusiness.

The special round is open for a month and MPI aims to have funding contractually committed before the end of December 2012 (with most to be spent in the first year but possibly spread over three years).

On 20 August 2012, MPI is opening its 2013 annual SFF round with up to $8 million of co-investment funding on offer for projects that will encourage sustainable resource use in the primary sectors. Applications are invited for projects up to a total of $600,000 spread evenly over three years.

To be successful, a project application must show how economic, environmental and social benefits will be delivered through tackling a shared problem or developing a new opportunity. There must be an identified ‘community of interest’ for each project.

This year applicants for the main round will take part in a single application process, comprising an initial check against the criteria and then an external panel process. Applicants will hear by the end of February 2013, and contracts will be in place by the end of May 2013.

For more information on the application process, visit MPI’s SFF webpage.