NEWS
Pollination Small Grants supporting beekeepers T
asmania’s honeybee industry will be supported via the launch of a $90,000 Pollination Small Grants Program, supplied through the Tasmanian government. The new program will aim to support projects that will increase the availability and viability of pollination services in Tasmania. This program is part of the government’s 2018-19 commitment of $750,000 over three years to implement the Tasmanian Bee Industry Futures Report. To help maintain Tasmania’s reputation for producing high-quality products, including honey, the government is also providing $20,000 to establish a “Honey Library.” Tasmania’s beekeeping industry is recognised for its leatherwood honey, but it also produces a range of other varieties including Manuka, prickly
box, clover and gum. In addition, the honeybee industry provides a vital pollination service for many of the Tasmania’s agricultural and horticultural crops. The Tasmanian state government has a target to grow the annual farmgate value of agriculture to $10 billion by 2050. To help achieve this growth, an expansion of viable pollination services is essential for many pollination-dependant crops. The Tasmanian Honey Assurance System is an integrated traceability system for honey produced in Tasmania. It is being created through a partnership with the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, the University of Tasmania with matching funding from the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Honey Bee Products. F
A $90,000 small grants program was launched in Tasmania to support beekeepers.
Food producers supported through a new water agreement T
he Western Australian government has reaffirmed its support of food producers in Carnarvon, after striking a new water-supply agreement to help fuel
horticultural expansion along the Gascoyne River. The agreement between Water Corporation and Gascoyne Water Cooperative (GWC) will see a phased
A new water-supply agreement was struck by the WA Government to help grow the horticulture sector. 6 Food&Beverage Industry News | September 2021 | www.foodmag.com.au
return to more cost-reflective pricing and encourage new enterprises across 300 hectares of prime horticultural land, released in January. “This agreement represents an important step forward in further establishing the Gascoyne as one of Australia’s premier food producing regions,” said water minister Dave Kelly. The land was made available under the state government’s Gascoyne Food Bowl Initiative to increase food production, improve sustainable water supplies for irrigated agriculture and facilitate new supply chain opportunities for local produce. Gascoyne growers will be guaranteed supply of high-quality water via a new 25 kilometre pipeline and reliable electric-power supply, under a new agreement between GWC and the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development. The new water-supply agreement, which replaces the previous agreement that expired in 2013, will see the Western Australian government continue its support for Gascoyne growers through subsidies on water charges of around $10.5 million over the agreement period. It will also see a gradual transition towards more cost-reflective water pricing and enable GWC time to generate new income streams and reduce reliance on government subsidies. “This agreement marks a new period of stability and security for Carnarvon growers, bringing to an end almost 10 years of uncertainty over water pricing,” said agriculture and food minister Alannah MacTiernan. F
