From the Director
Innovation topped our agenda this month, with the TNQ Drought Hub joining ‘Team Queensland’, the other Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation hubs and Beanstalk at EvokeAG25 in Brisbane. The event was a huge success that saw over 2000 attendees from 27 countries hear from 95+ speakers and 100+ innovators.
Our Innovation and Commercialisation team partnered with Farmers2Founders and Local Indigenous Food Enterprise Services (LIFES) to kick off the official lead-in events for EvokeAG25 by hosting Millennia of Ag-Innovation in Cairns and across the Tablelands. A big shout-out to Barron River Redclaw, Salvetti Farming Co, Rainstick and Launch Y(E)P for being a part of our Innovation Trail tour. Thank you to the team who made this possible and everyone who travelled as participants, presenters and stall-holders. There were fascinating discussions on food security, atmospheric water generation, Indigenous business, Traditional Knowledge, native grains, agtech and camels. The networking, interactions, and opportunities generated, highlight the need to support events in our region.
Innovation and technology are two elements needed to further our regions’ resilience and preparation for future droughts. We are used to responding to volatility in our markets, climate and weather events, but the best information available to us indicates that we need to prepare for even more uncertainty over the next few years. Strategies to build resilience include being adaptable, sharing information and ideas with our peers and experts, enhancing the health of the water, soil and pasture resources under-pinning our agricultural productivity, increasing business access to financial reserves, diversifying into new markets, and making the most of our place-based advantages.
TNQ Drought Hub partner and member organisations, industry and stakeholders are working together to design and implement the next suite of activities and projects to help enhance preparedness and resilience. I look forward to sharing more information on what we have planned in the coming months.
You can read more in the hub highlight below, across our social media posts and news articles.
Until next time, keep safe and well.
David Phelps
Director
Hub Highlight - Millennia of Ag-Innovation Reimagining Agrifood Resilience in Tropical North Queensland
Millennia of Ag-Innovation showcased the importance of creating opportunities, knowledge sharing and food security in shaping a sustainable future.
Held in Cairns on February 10-11, 2025, the event marked the first First Nations-led AgTech showcase in Tropical North Queensland.
Attendees engaged in live technology demonstrations, farm visits, workshops, and a cultural evening. The event underscored the significance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and local food security in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
LIFES President Marc Harbrow emphasised that Millennia of Ag-Innovation was a major step forward for First Nations agribusinesses.
“There are a number of businesses that need help and support to connect with greater opportunities, whether that’s business exports, business contacts, or new ventures,” Marc said.
Drought Resilience in Action
Home Hill State High School Horticulture Education will benefit from the Cravo Protective Cropping Structure
A new agricultural initiative aimed at educating students and benefiting the local community has been constructed at Home Hill State High School.
Through the cutting-edge Cravo Protective Cropping Structure, students enrolled in a Certificate II in Production Horticulture at Home Hill State High School and Ayr State High School will gain hands-on experience in sustainable farming practices, including the use of fertigation systems that deliver precise nutrients to plant roots for optimal growth.
The TNQ Drought Hub is proud to have provided support to help get this innovative technology into the region.
Applications Now Open: Drought Resilience Lab Cohort 3
After two successful cohorts, Beanstalk’s Drought Resilience Lab – part of the world-first Drought Venture Studio and backed by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund – is gearing up for Cohort 3. This 12-week program is designed to equip agtech founders, entrepreneurial researchers, and industry disruptors to turn their technologies into market-ready ventures that tackle Australia’s most urgent drought and climate challenges.
Who should apply?
- Entrepreneurial researchers translating lab innovations into real-world applications
- Agtech founders with early-stage prototypes ready to validate and bring to market
- Industry disruptors developing game-changing solutions for agriculture
Have Your Say on the Future Drought Fund Innovation Challenges Pilot
You can help prioritise public investment in high-impact, innovative, and sustainable solutions to the most pressing drought and climate challenges facing Australian agriculture.
Your feedback will help design the Australian Government’s Innovation Challenge Pilot – to be delivered through the Future Drought Fund.
You are the key to drive innovative solutions to the unique drought and climate impacts of your region and across Australia.
Consultation closes 13 March 2025
REGISTER NOW: ARLF Changemaker Workshops coming to Clermont, Mackay, Collinsville and Charters Towers, May
Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to make change happen in your community?
Join the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation for a two-day Changemaker Workshop at:
Clermont – 12-13 May
Mackay – 15-16 May
Collinsville – 19-20 May
Charters Towers – 22-23 May
Explore how change happens, practise how to adapt to change and how to overcome resistance.
Understand the local ecosystem; undertake purposeful and inclusive engagement; step into informed and authentic conversations.
Explore ideas to shape the future you would like to see for your community.
REGISTER NOW: Excel Spreadsheets Grazing Enterprises, Lakeland, 10 June
Improve your business with a working knowledge of Excel.
Have you downloaded a spreadsheet and not been able to use it? This three-quarter day workshop will step you through the very fundamentals of Microsoft Excel.
We’ll give you practical grazing business examples to help your business management.
Date: Tuesday 10 June
Time: 8.45am – 2.30pm
Where: Lakeland Town Hall, 4 Sesame Street
Computers provided but you are welcome to bring your own device.
Morning tea and lunch provided. Bookings essential as there are limited seats.
REGISTER NOW: Governance Essentials, Online, starting 4 June
Join the TNQ Drought Hub and Get on Board Australia for an engaging and practical online Governance Essentials course.
Perfect for individuals working with or wanting to be involved with community groups, this course dives into the principles of governance, your duties and responsibilities, ethical decision-making, and the skills to lead with confidence.
Date: Wednesday 4 June – Wednesday 13 August
Duration: 6 sessions over 10 weeks
Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm (AEST)
Where: Online (blended self-paced learning with short recap sessions)
Cost: $150 (valued at $250, subsidised by the TNQ Drought Hub)
Agtech Insights
Read the latest edition of Agtech insights where we look into:
- MLA’s $6.5M Foragecaster Project
- Exploring drone technology in livestock mustering
- Military-Grade Satellites: Fighting Weeds
- Build Your App with Replit
- plus more
Get Involved
- Apply: 2025 National Landcare Conference. Got a story to tell or research to reveal? The 2025 National Landcare Conference call for abstracts campaign is NOW open for people to submit papers to be a speaker or submit a poster presentation. Submit your abstract.
- Apply: Climate Adaptation 2025. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers will come together for Climate Adaptation 2025 – Connecting Knowledge, Building Resilience. This conference will explore innovative solutions to the complex challenges of climate adaptation. Submit your abstract and be part of the conversation shaping the future of climate adaptation. Submit your abstract.
- Apply: LEADAg Youth Program. The LEADAg Youth program is designed for 15 to 17 year-olds and runs for a one-week block in either the Central Highlands or Central Western Queensland. LEADAg addresses the lack of opportunity for young people to gain practical, hands-on training and skills to make them employable as well as exposure to the opportunities within agriculture. Applications close Sunday 16th March. Apply now.
- Apply: Farming and Agriculture Sector women’s leadership scholarship. Boost your career with a partial scholarship of $1,000-$5,000 from Women & Leadership Australia. Choose from one of four leadership and workplace skill development courses for women at all levels in Farming and Agriculture. Apply by Friday 28 March 2025, places are limited. Apply now.
- Apply: Financial assistance for primary producers. Financial recovery assistance is now available for primary producers impacted by high rainfall and flooding in northern Queensland. Assistance includes: Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000, Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000, Freight subsidies of up to $5,000. Find out more.
- Survey: Queensland DPI Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey. Primary producers affected by high rainfall and flooding in northern Queensland can report damage or losses via the Disaster Impact Survey. Reports help determine if additional assistance is needed to support our industries’ recovery needs. Complete the survey.
- Apply: GRASS Funding opportunity. Limited funding opportunities remaining for The Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program with last grants to be submitted by 30 May, 2025. Grants of up to $15,000 are available to producers to address land in poor or degraded condition. For more information contact Tristan Gibson at tristan.gibson@nqdrytropics.com.au or on 0476 889 502
Where applicable, we can provide Letters of Support to assist with your applications. Email tnqhub@jcu.edu.au with details of your application and how it applies to future drought resilience.
To find more grants available in the TNQ region, visit the following organisations.
- Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
- RDA Townsville and North West Queensland Grant Finder
- RDA Tropical North Grants
- Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder
TNQ Drought Hub has worked with our NRM Node and industry partners to develop regional priorities. These are a useful resource when writing grant applications.
Upcoming Events
Check out our Events calendar to see what’s happing in the agricultural industry around Tropical North Queensland and throughout the country. Some upcoming events to keep an eye out on are;
- ABARES Outlook 2025, 4 – 5 March, Online and Canberra,
- Beef Industry Connect, 6 March, Atherton
- Farm “Money Matters” Workshop, 7 March, Brandon
- Business EDGE Young Guns, 11 – 12 March, Charters Towers
- BeefUp Forum, 14 March, Cloncurry
- RCS Grazing Clinic, 18 – 20 March, Roma,
- Regional Milling Seminars 2025, 24 March – 3 April, Mackay, Condong, Bundaberg, Townsville, South Johnstone
- Governance Essentials, Online, 2 April – 11 June
Resources
The Farm Business Resilience Program offers tailored support for farmers and graziers across all commodities to prepare for the future. Completing a Farm Business Resilience Plan not only equips you with a clear strategy for your business but enables you to apply for drought preparedness and recovery support through QRIDA, including access to low-interest loans and grants.
The plan also serves as a powerful tool for aligning stakeholders such as financiers, accountants, solicitors, and employees on the direction and goals of your business.
TNQ Drought Hub Node Partners
