Key Takeaways
- The NSW Government is investing $28 million through the Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program, with recipients contributing $77.5 million for a total of $105.5 million across 14 projects.
- Funded projects include a $4 million rail and processing upgrade for AgConnex in Griffith and a $3.94 million off-grid livestock processing facility for Eringoarrah Pty Ltd near Wagga Wagga.
- NSW's primary industries reached a record $25.5 billion Gross Value of Production in 2024-25.
- The NSW Government has separately committed $100 million to agricultural research over the past year and more than $1 billion to biosecurity systems.
- Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the co-investment model is designed to draw private capital into regional economies.
NSW Government Co-Funds Fourteen Agriculture Projects
The NSW Government has confirmed $105.5 million in combined public and private investment across 14 agriculture projects under the Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program. The state is providing $28 million in grants, with funding recipients contributing a further $77.5 million, a co-investment structure intended to draw additional private capital into regional economies and expand export opportunities for local producers.
Recipients include Hortifutura Co Pty Ltd in Cessnock, which will receive $500,000 to convert waste into renewable energy as part of a broader shift toward sustainable agriculture practices for an organic seedling nursery. AgConnex in Griffith will receive $4 million to upgrade rail and processing capacity to expand plant protein exports, while Provenance Propagation in Grafton will get $2.1 million to expand its controlled-environment growing area. Freeman Vineyards in Young will use $2 million to build the state's first dealcoholisation facility, and AWH Pty Ltd in Goulburn will receive $1.4 million for a digital wool auction hub.
Record Production Underpins NSW Government Investment
The announcement follows a record $25.5 billion Gross Value of Production for the state's primary industries in 2024-25. The NSW Government said the innovation funding builds on $100 million committed to agricultural research over the past year and more than $1 billion invested in biosecurity systems to help producers protect their operations.
Officials Comment on the Funding
“This funding is about backing innovation and businesses like Hortifutura to help farmers modernise their operations, stay competitive and continue to grow,” said Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, said the program was designed to strengthen regional supply chains.
“Supporting this and the other 13 projects announced today helps create local jobs, strengthen supply chains and set our regional industries up for sustained economic growth,” said Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW.
Hortifutura owner Ben Smider said the grant would let the business expand its organic seedling capacity and reduce its reliance on external energy.
“This funding is a huge step for us. It means we can take what we've already built and lift it to a world-class standard, reducing our reliance on external energy sources and feeding clean power back into the grid,” said Ben Smider, Owner of Hortifutura.
