Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program NSW

Purpose and Program Overview

The New South Wales (NSW) Government created the Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program to support the NSW agriculture sector. This program intends to increase the use of new technology and equipment in the sector. The core objective is to accelerate innovation in regional NSW to improve access to export opportunities, strengthen supply chain productivity, and lower emissions.

The total funding pool for this program is up to $25 million, sourced from the Regional Development Trust. This investment supports regional industries in growing and adjusting to structural and environmental changes.

Key outcomes of the program include expanding access to new and emerging markets, reducing the agricultural sector’s impacts from geopolitical and environmental changes, and increasing the economic participation of regional Aboriginal businesses.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount or Funding Range: From $500,000 to $4,000,000 per project.
• Application Open and Close Dates: Applications opened on 1 December 2025 and close on 23 January 2026, at 4:00 pm.
• Eligible Industries or Business Types: Primarily targets incorporated entities, including companies, co-operatives, incorporated associations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations, supporting the NSW agriculture sector.
• Required Co-contributions: Applicants must provide a financial co-contribution of at least 50% of the total project cost.
• Location/State/Territory Applicability: Projects must be located in one of the 95 regional NSW Local Government Areas, the Unincorporated Far West region, or on Lord Howe Island. Projects in the Sydney metropolitan area are ineligible.

Priority Sectors

The program aims to support key growth sectors. This includes the development of future fuels and plant-based proteins. The grant is not limited to these areas but focuses on projects that accelerate innovative technology uptake across the NSW agriculture supply chain.

Funding Scope

The funding range for individual projects is between a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum of $4,000,000. This is a single-stage application process.

Funding supports activities that lead to innovation, improved productivity, and increased access to new markets. The program does not specify a maximum project timeline or eligible funding duration in the provided summary, but projects must deliver specific outcomes within a defined scope.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business Structure: Must be an incorporated entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN), such as an Australian-incorporated company, incorporated association, co-operative, incorporated partnership, or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation. Sole traders and individuals are ineligible.
• Financial Status and Compliance: Applicants must be registered for GST and demonstrate financial viability by supplying the most recent two years of financial statements.
• Insurance: Must hold or commit to obtaining Public Liability Insurance of not less than $20 million per occurrence before signing a funding deed.
• Location: The project site must be located in an eligible regional NSW Local Government Area, the Unincorporated Far West region, or Lord Howe Island.
• Other Requirements: The applicant must be a fit and proper legal entity, not be insolvent, bankrupt, or subject to ongoing legal proceedings. Applicants can submit a maximum of one application.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The grant supports various costs essential to the project’s success:

• Capital Equipment and Infrastructure: Construction costs for infrastructure development, expansion, upgrades, and purchasing equipment and non-fixed assets.
• Personnel Costs: Employment of staff or service providers to deliver the project.
• Project Management: Up to 10% of the requested grant funding can cover project management and project assurance support.
• Project Contingency: Up to 25% of the requested grant funding can cover project contingency costs for potential cost escalations.

Ineligible costs include land or building purchase, financing costs, business cases, general maintenance, and retrospective costs.

Assessment Process

This is a competitive grant program based on a single-stage application process. The assessment involves the following stages:

• Preliminary Assessment: The department reviews compliance, eligibility, and project feasibility.
• Merit-based Assessment: Eligible applications are assessed against key criteria.
  • Strategic alignment
  • Value for money
  • Economic benefit
• Decision Making: The Minister for Regional NSW makes the final funding decision. The process also considers the project’s ability to promote balanced regional economic development and diversity of project types across regional NSW.

Recent Program Updates

The program opened on 1 December 2025. Applications are currently open for this funding round. The anticipated assessment outcome date is from 29 May 2026. Applicants must refer to the official Program Guidelines for any legislative context or rule changes.

Application Tips

Carefully review all published program guidelines and the Frequently Asked Questions document. Ensure your project is located in an eligible regional NSW area.

Your application should clearly show how your project accelerates the use of innovative technology to increase exports, improve productivity, and lower emissions. Provide a detailed project budget based on quotes or estimates and include a robust risk management plan.

Secure your minimum 50% financial co-contribution before applying, and provide evidence of its availability with your submission. If you involve multiple entities, provide an agreement, memorandum of understanding, or signed letter confirming their commitment.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today, and we will connect you with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website and other associated Australian government websites.