Up to $20M is available from Food Source Victoria to support activities that add value to agricultural produce sourced from regional Victoria.
Food Source Victoria (FSV)
Food Source Victoria (FSV) support Victorian agri-food businesses in Regional Victoria (RV) to work together and with value chain partners to grow exports and create new jobs.
Objective
The objective of Food Source Victoria is to build stronger agri-businesses and regional communities that will result in:
- new, ongoing jobs, particularly in regional Victoria
- growth in Victoria’s agricultural, food and related industries
- farmers, growers, processors and manufacturers working together, with supply chain partners driving innovation and efficiencies
- workers with greater skills, knowledge and confidence to respond to growing global demand for premium products
- increased Victorian agri-food exports.
FSV Programs
The FSV Fund – contestable grants program assisting eligible agri-food alliances and value chain partnerships in Regional Victoria to plan and implement improvements along the export value chain, to increase exports and create new, ongoing jobs.
It consists of two types of funding:
- Food Source Planning Grants, which enable agri-food alliances and value chain partnerships based in Regional Victoria to access independent, skilled business advisers to support the development of Growth Plans that identify clear actions;
- Food Source Growth Grants, which assist alliances and value chain partnerships based in Regional Victoria to implement the improvements recommended in their Growth Plans, or an equivalent pre-existing exportfocused business plan, to grow exports and create jobs.
The FSV Scholarships Program – a study and training grants program supporting eligible individuals working in Regional Victoria to develop the skills and knowledge the agri-food sector needs to respond to growing global demand for premium products.
Funding
Food Source Planning Grant funding will be provided on a co-contribution basis, with applicants contributing at least one third of the total project cost (ie. a 2:1 funding ratio).
Food Source Growth Grants
Food Source Growth Grants will be provided on a co-contribution basis, with applicants contributing at least half of the total project costs (ie. a 1:1 funding ratio). The total funding amount available to alliances and value chain partnerships under the Food Source Growth Grant program is uncapped. However applications must provide a compelling rationale for State Government assistance, demonstrating value for money and the financial viability of the applicants.
Food Source Victoria Scholarships Program
The funding available per scholarship will be left open to allow greater flexibility of study and training options, including university and TAFE courses, other short courses and professional development opportunities.
Recipients may be eligible for:
- travel allowance: up to $3,000
- accommodation and meals: up to $3,000/month (pro rata)
Eligible Projects
FSV Fund
In preparing the application, prospective applicants will be asked to demonstrate the project’s ability to address each of the following criteria:
- Economic benefits;
- Breadth of impact;
- Capability development;
- Demonstrated project need, feasibility and delivery;
- Financial viability; and
- Maximising value to the State.
FSV Scholarships Program
Scholarships seek to target ambitious and innovative sector professionals in businesses in Regional Victoria that are either newly or on the verge of:
- exporting;
- expanding into a new market(s);
- launching a new product or range of products in an export market(s); or
- introducing another form of step change in technology or practice that will boost exports and/or create jobs.
Eligible Applicants
FSV Fund
Applications for the Fund will be considered from:
- Private and public companies (not listed) incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001, that is non tax-exempt and is registered for GST, with trading activities that form a sufficiently significant proportion of its overall activities as to merit it being described as a trading corporation or a substantial and not merely peripheral activity of the corporation.
- Marketing cooperatives
- Not for profit organisations that are an incorporated body, co-operative or association (including business associations) and have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or can provide written advice from the Australian Tax Office that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment.
FSV Scholarships Program
Applicants must:
- Be over the age of 18 years at the time of applying
- Have at least 3 years of experience in the agri-food sector
- Have been working in an agri-food business located in Regional Victoria for at least 3 days per normal business week for the last 3 months
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident currently residing in Regional Victoria
- Have not previously received any other grant, funding or scholarship for the activities outlined in their application.
Timing
Applications close 30 June 2019.
Media Release
The Andrews Labor Government is funding pioneering robotic weeding equipment for Kilter Pty Ltd in Lake Boga that could transform Victoria’s tomato growing industry, boosting exports and growing local jobs.
The Labor Government will provide a grant of $250,000 through its Food Source Victoria program for the ground-breaking project, which has the potential to transform the processed tomato industry and position Victoria as the lead organic tomato processing centre for Australia.
The robotic weeding equipment is crucial to growing organic tomato crops, as the requirements of organic certification mean chemicals can’t be used to control weeds.
Kilter is the largest grower of irrigated, broad acre-organic crops in Australia and the second largest grower of processing tomatoes after Kagome Farms.
There are currently no organic tomatoes processed in Australia, so manufacturers and retailers offering products containing organic processed tomatoes must use an imported product.
This project creates a significant market opportunity for Australian-grown organic tomatoes in Victoria, growing local jobs.
