Gippsland farmers and producers will benefit from a Coalition Government push to improve access to safe and effective agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester today said weeds, pests and diseases cost the Australian economy more than $4.5 billion each year in lost production.
“Figures from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences estimate land managers spend almost $20,000 on weed, pest and disease management every year,” Mr Chester said.
“The Coalition Government is investing $8 million over four years so farmers, including those in Gippsland, can get safe and effective chemicals, cut costs and lift production.
“When compared to older chemicals, new chemicals and new chemical uses provide many benefits to both farmers and the environment.”
A grants program is now open for research and development corporations to generate evidence to support applications for official approval to gain, maintain or broaden access to priority uses of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said the grants program would help Australian farmers access new products and expand uses for existing chemicals.
Applicants may seek up to $100 000 for projects aimed at including a new use on a product label, and up to $50 000 for projects aimed at broadening or gaining new access to a use with an Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) minor use permit.
“Australia is a relatively small market, which can sometimes mean that the cost involved in registering an agvet chemical can make the venture uncommercial,” Mr Joyce said.
“This grant funding will make Australian producers more competitive by improving their ability to access new and innovative agvet chemicals that may be already available to their international competitors.
“Agvet chemicals are essential to control the spread of pests and diseases amongst our crops and livestock and to boost our productivity by reducing the damage that pests and disease cause to agricultural produce.
“Ensuring farmers have access to agvet chemicals that are both effective and safe is crucial to our agricultural industries, the community and the environment.”
