Innovation Grants

Application guidelines

Release 6 June 2013

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

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The Sustainable Agriculture stream is delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.

Contents

PART 1: Program Overview5

1.1 Caring for our Country 5

1.2 Sustainable Agriculture stream6

1.2.1 Outcomes of Sustainable Agriculture stream6

1.2.2 Delivery of Sustainable Agriculture stream6

PART 2: Innovation Grants for Strategic Investments8

2.1 How will the government invest? 8

2.2 Innovation grant outcomes8

2.3 Natural resource management requirements10

2.4 Scope of innovation 11

2.4.1 Types of innovation12

2.5 Program evaluation13

PART 3: Eligibility14

3.1 What is an eligible project?14

3.2 Who is eligible to apply for funding? 14

3.3 Types of eligible activities 15

3.3.1 Activities to include in project applications17

3.3.2 Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Activities17

3.3.3 Eligible budget activities and items18

3.3.4 Budget18

3.4 What activities will not be funded?18

PART 4: Conditions and Instructions for Applying20

4.1 Application process20

4.2 Types of support the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
will provide to applicants21

4.3 Key program dates21

4.4 How to apply22

4.5 Conditions of applying23

4.5.1 Conflicts of interest23

4.5.2 False and Misleading information23

4.5.3 Privacy Statement 23

4.5.4 Tax implications23

4.5.5 Corrections24

PART 5: Assessment and Selection25

5.1 Assessment criteria25

5.1.1 Assessment considerations27

5.2 Who will assess?28

5.2.1 Who selects suitable applicants?28

5.3 Successful projects29

5.3.1 Notification of funding decisions29

5.3.2 Funding Conditions29

5.3.3 Reporting requirements29

5.3.4 Publication of information about successful applicants30

5.4 Unsuccessful projects31

5.5 Complaints handling process31

5.6 Where do I go for more information?31

PART 1: Program Overview

1.1 Caring for our Country

Innovation Grants is part of the Strategic Investments component of the Sustainable Agriculture stream under the second phase of Caring for our Country.

Phase two of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program
(2013-2018) will be delivered in two streams – Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Environment (Figure 1). The Sustainable Agriculture stream is being delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Sustainable Environment stream is being delivered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Caring for our Country will continue to be delivered in a coordinated manner, with one overarching long-term vision. Caring for our Country is an ongoing Australian Government initiative that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthier, better protected, well-managed, resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

The government will invest over $2 billion in the second phase of Caring for our Country, which will support land managers, industry and community groups including Indigenous groups and Landcare. This builds on the first phase of Caring for our Country 2008-2013, in which the government invested over $2 billion in projects to protect and build resilience in our environment.

Figure 1: Caring for our Country phase 2 and strategic objectives

1.2 Sustainable Agriculture stream

Sustainable production enables continued productivity and profitability; delivery of ecosystem services including food, biodiversity, clean air and water; and contributes to community well-being, particularly in regional areas.

The Sustainable Agriculture stream will focus on food security, managing natural resources sustainably and addressing key threats that impact on agricultural production such as weed and pest management.

The Sustainable Agriculture stream will continue to provide support to protect the natural resource base, improve planning and capacity for resource and environmental management and better understand our natural resources and resource management challenges.

This includes land used for agriculture, agroforestry (or farm forestry) and marine and aquatic environments. This also includes a range of practices and measures.

1.2.1 Outcomes of Sustainable Agriculture stream

The long-term (20 year) projection for the Caring for our Country Sustainable Agriculture stream is:

‘Australia’s agricultural lands will support and maintain clean water, biodiversity and healthy soils, while continuously improving food and fibre productivity. The agricultural sector will operate on the principle of sustainable management of natural resources and be better able to respond to threats and opportunities created by changing circumstances, particularly a changing climate’.

The five strategic objectives are:

  1. sustainable production of food
  2. innovation in Australian agriculture and fisheries practices
  3. reduced impact of weeds and pests on agriculture
  4. improved management of agriculture and fisheries and the natural resource base
  5. skilled and capable Landcare community.

The Sustainable Agriculture stream has a number of five-year outcomes. Refer to Sustainable Agriculture stream: strategic directions 2013-18 for further information on the website

1.2.2 Delivery of Sustainable Agriculture stream

Funding will be delivered through a mix of approaches. These include:

  • Community Landcare Grants–funding small grants of $5 000 to $50 000 to help local community-based organisations and groups to take on-ground action and build capacity and skills to manage their natural environment and productive lands, which contributes to the program outcomes.
    See for further information.
  • Regional delivery - funding to regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations to address priorities. Expected to deliver regional level NRM planning and prioritisation, brokering partnerships and delivery of regional NRM, community engagement and capacity building, delivery of program outcomes and reporting at a regional level. See for further information.
  • Strategic Investments– funding for a range of projects that address national priorities, drive innovation, build partnerships and achieve broad scale outcomes. Some funding is directed at national priorities related to implementing national strategies such as the Australian Weed Strategy, Australian Pest Animal Strategy, and National Volunteering Strategy. See for further information.

These guidelines apply to the Strategic Investments component. Other grant guidelines for the Sustainable Agriculture stream will have a staggered release over coming months.

PART 2: Innovation Grants for Strategic Investments

2.1 How will the government invest?

Innovation in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture is essential to protect the natural resource base while increasing productivity, including through more efficient use of inputs. Sustainable agriculture, fishingand aquaculture are not static and will continue to develop and adapt.

Applications are invited through a competitive open call process which range in value from a minimum of $250000 to a maximum of $1.5million (GST exclusive). Under this grant round the government is seeking applications for projects that will be completed by 30 June 2015.

Applications can be related to all forms of production, including cropping, grazing, horticulture, mixed farming, agroforestry (or farm forestry), fishing and aquaculture. Applications can also be delivered at different scales including national, multi-regional and regional levels.

Attachment A provides an outline of the program logic for Innovation Grants. This includes the 20 year projection, five-year outcomes and the types of activities that are eligible for funding to achieve the outcomes.

2.2 Innovation Grants outcomes

The broad objective of the Innovation Grants is to increase the uptake of innovative production, resource management, information collections, extension and supply chain management practices and processes that will improve the productivity and sustainability of resource based industries.

Applicantsmust target at least one of the priority five-year outcomes (refer to Text Box 1and 2 in this section).

Applicants are encouraged to also contribute to the “additional” five-year outcomes (Refer to Text Box 1, 2 and 3 in this section). However, projects that address multiple five year outcomes will not necessarily improve the chances for funding (refer to Part 5 for further information).

The government is seeking to support culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and encourages applicants to consider how their project will engage and support these communities.

Text Box 1:

Protecting the resource base
Five year outcomes
By 2018 Caring for our Country will have:
Priority Outcome:
  • Increased the number and area of farming and fishing sector entities that have trialled innovative practices for improved natural resources management.

Additional Outcomes:
  • Increased the percentage and area of farming entities using sustainable land management practices to increase productivity and improve the quality of ecosystem services delivered to the broader community from their land, while building their resilience to climate change.
  • Increased the percentage of fishing and aquaculture entities that have adopted sustainable and low environmental impact management practices to increase productivity

Text Box 2:

Improving planning and capacity for resource and environmental management
Five year outcomes
By 2018 Caring for our Country will have:
Priority Outcomes:
  • Increased the percentage of farming and fishing entities and land managers with the knowledge and skills to manage our natural resources and deliver ecosystem services.
  • Increased the use of institutional, sectoral, market and supply chain-based initiatives to promote adoption of sustainable farm practices, including the consistent use of indicators of sustainability across industry sectors. [note: sustainability indicators are being developed through a separate initiative].

Additional Outcomes:
  • Increased the capacity and confidence of regional community leaders, including women, young people, Indigenous Australians and people from culturally diverse communities involved in agriculture or fisheries production and the protection of natural resources.
  • Increased engagement and participation by regional communities and groups, including Landcare, professional farming system groups, industry, other community groups or individuals in natural resource management activities.

Text Box 3:

Better understanding our natural resources and resource management challenges
Five year outcomes
By 2018, Caring for our Country will:
No priority outcome
Additional Outcome:
  • Increase community awareness and understanding of the status of Australia’s natural resources (land, forests and fisheries).

Activities under Innovation Grants to address this additional outcome (Text Box 3) should focus on achieving a better awareness and understanding of natural resources and challenges relevant to the resource management practice change and capacity building outcomes above (Text Box 1 and 2). Activities should not focus on collecting base line data for broader assessments of the condition of natural resources.

2.3 Natural resource management requirements

The five-year outcomes relate to improving the natural resource base and delivering ecosystem services to the broader community. These relate to protectingthe natural resource base, improving planning and capacity for resource and environmental management and better understanding our natural resources and resource management challenges.

The natural resources being improved are soil, native vegetation (where it also contributes to sustainable use outcomes), water quality and the marine environment.

Applicantsmust address at least one of these natural resource condition(s).

For example,fishing activities would target maintenance or improvements in the marine environment such as reducing bycatch.

For aquaculture, activities would target an improvement in water quality and environmental health.

For agriculture and agroforestry (or farm forestry), activities would target soil condition, native vegetation (where it is also contributes to sustainable use outcomes), water quality and managing the threat of weeds and pests to the resource base. Soil is the key natural resource used by agriculture and agroforestry and it would be expected that improving native vegetation, water quality and managing pests and weeds would also improve the condition of soils.

For further information refer to the Caring for our Country website at

2.4 Scope of innovation

For the purposes of the Innovation Grants, innovations can be completely new practices or technology or incremental changes, such as adapting existing practices or technology. They may also be applying practices or technology in a novel way or combination, or in a new region or production situation.

Eligible innovations must be underpinned by scientific research and evidence and have demonstrated ‘proof of concept’. The innovation should be considered suitable for adoption by farmers, fishers, land managers and/or groups involved in natural resource management. Applicants should also consider the likely level of adoption of the innovation past the life of the project (i.e. adoption levels in 5 and 10 years).

Applicants should consider the current level of adoption of the practice and/or technology. This may vary for different regions, industries and/or groups. In the application the approximate level of adoption of the innovation should be identified and any evidence provided to support the claim. Quantitative and/or qualitative evidence is acceptable. The types of innovation eligible for funding are outlined in Part 2.4.1.

Projects can target a range of adoption rates. The current level of adoption will be assessed along with other aspects of the project including the activities to be funded, the expected contribution to the outcome(s), amount of cost sharing and value for money and risk (refer to Part 5.1).

If despite widespread knowledge of an innovation, the innovation has a low investment and adoption rate; a public benefit must still be demonstrated if support is proposed. It would be expected that proponents would contribute to project costs if there is a prospect for commercialisation of the innovation - approximately 50 per cent. Where the innovation exceeds 20 per cent adoption,the funding from government must have a high likelihood of driving further adoption in addition to providing demonstrated public benefit (Figure 2).For further information on public and private benefit, refer to the Caring for our Country website at

Additional information to assist applicants to estimate the current and anticipated level of adoption of practices and examples of innovation are available on the Caring for our Country website at

Figure 2: Innovation Spectrum

2.4.1 Types of innovation

The types of innovative practices and/or technology can relate to:

  • farming and fishing practices and systems, and/or
  • ways to build capacity, and/or
  • institutional and market based approaches. For institutional and market based approaches, the target is to invest in 2-3 projects in this round of grants (Innovation Grants).

Refer to Table 1.

Table 1: Types of innovation

Types of innovation
Innovative practices and systems / -New on-ground practices or new combinations of practices (defined as practices whose current adoption rates are estimated to be <20 per cent), adaption to existing practices or the introduction of practices that are already being used successfully in other countries, regions or industries
-Includes farming and fishing practices and systems, machinery, equipment, digital information systems
-Examples: pasture cropping, grazing practices, trialling new species/varieties that are expected to deliver soil improvements, smart technologies, remote stock monitoring and management, variable rate technologies for fertilisers and pesticides.
Capacity to innovate / -New and existing information, communication systems and products that provide knowledge, extension or services and/or build networks including community level innovation
-Examples: digital information systems, new phone and notepad applications to deliver timely information to farmers to facilitate informed natural resource decision making.
Institutional and market based approaches / -Institutional and market based approaches that involve the supply chains, monitoring and evaluation and demonstration of progress to support branding and/or marketing to assist with the adoption of sustainable practices and/or technology.

2.5 Program evaluation

The contribution projects can make to the five-year outcomes set out in these guidelines form a very important part of the assessment process. The government will evaluate the contribution projects make to the five-year outcomes and the effectiveness and efficiency in delivering the outcomes.

The government will invest through the Strategic Investment component of the Sustainable Agriculture stream, including innovation through a dynamic and flexible approach. The evaluation of Innovation Grants projects will be an important contribution to work into the design of upcoming calls for projects.

PART 3: Eligibility

3.1 What is an eligible project?

To be eligible, a project must meet all of the following criteria:

  • total funding sought must be between a minimum of $250000 and a maximum of
    $1500000 (GST exclusive) (at Part 2.1)
  • funded project activities must be completed by 30 June 2015 (at Part 2.1)
  • project must contribute to delivering against at least one of the ‘priority’ five year outcomes and can also address ‘additional’ five year outcomes (at Part 2.2)
  • project must address a natural resource requirement. (at Part 2.3)
  • project must contribute to innovation (at Part 2.4)
  • project activities must be eligible (at Part 3.3)
  • funding must not be used for ineligible activities identified (at Part 3.4).

3.2 Who is eligible to apply for funding?

The following can apply for funding:

  • Individuals and organisations that are legal entities capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable deed with the Commonwealth. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
  • a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
  • an incorporated association incorporated under the various State and Territory association incorporation legislation
  • an indigenous corporation incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
  • State or Territory departments and agencies
  • a body corporate created under State or Territory legislation including a local government and a university
  • alegally-constitutedpartnership provided all of the partners sign, or authorise the signing of the deed
  • Commonwealth agencies and statutory corporations.
  • An individual or organisation specified above who is acting in its capacity as the trustee of a trust.

The types of groups that can apply for the Innovation Grants include, but are not limited to: