The State government has announced it would invest $30 million to help Victoria’s farmers manage energy costs, through improved efficiency and new technology.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford launched the new Agriculture Energy Investment Plan at Boomaroo Nurseries, Lara.
She said the plan would help local farmers reduce energy costs, maintain competitiveness and create local jobs by providing on farm energy assessments, as well as grants to improve energy efficiency and install renewable energy systems.
“Through close consultation with the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), we’re working hard to better understand how to tackle on farm energy consumption, cost structures and the barriers that prevent or discourage investment,” Ms Pulford said.
“This plan will better prepare our agricultural sector for the future and reflects our determination to working with farmers to maintain a sustainable, adaptable and internationally competitive agriculture sector.”
The Agriculture Energy Investment Plan will start in 2018 and provides:
- $5 million for energy efficiency assessments on farm
- $20 million in grants to support farmers invest in energy efficiency and generation technology
- $1.5 million to demonstrate energy efficiency and generation measures on farm
- $2.5 million to link farmers and businesses to information, education resources and apps
- $1 million in research to commercialise research for the farming sector.
The design of the Plan was informed by the On-Farm Energy Survey carried out by Agriculture Victoria and the VFF.
The results identified cost and reliability as the top energy-related concerns for farmers. The survey revealed investment cost, the speed of technology change and uncertainty about implementation were preventing farmers from improving energy efficiency and pursuing alternative energy options.
An advisory group would be formed to advise the government on the plan’s implementation.
