The Australian Government’s Innovation Challenges Pilot is now open, with $20 million in funding to support bold, collaborative solutions that address the complex impacts of drought and climate change on agriculture.
This initiative, delivered through the Future Drought Fund (FDF), takes a challenge-based approach designed to foster transformative innovation rather than incremental improvements. It aims to future-proof Australian agriculture by investing in high-impact projects that deliver long-term resilience across landscapes, water systems, and communities.
Australian agriculture is facing increasingly complex and multi-dimensional challenges due to drought and climate variability. To ensure the sector remains productive and sustainable, we need solutions that go beyond business-as-usual. That is why the Innovation Challenges Pilot focuses on transformational change, guided by insights from farmers, researchers, innovators, First Nations People, and regional communities.
The Pilot provides $20 million over three years (from 2025–26) for projects that are collaborative, evidence-based and challenge-driven – to address one or more of the following priority areas:
Successful projects may receive up to $2 million in funding.
This is your opportunity to turn identified challenges into funded, impactful projects. High-quality applications are sought from consortia across the agriculture sector that can demonstrate proof of concept and a clear pathway to scale.
Challenge accepted? You helped define the challenges—this is your opportunity to deliver the solutions.
Applications close 22 October 2025 at 9:00pm (AEDT).
Learn more and apply: Grants Connect