AgriFutures Australia RD&E Investment program

Purpose and Program Overview

The AgriFutures Australia RD&E Investment program provides funding to organisations to deliver research, development and extension (RD&E) that strengthens and future‑proofs established and emerging rural industries in Australia. It aims to improve the sustainability and profitability of new and existing agricultural sectors by supporting projects that generate practical, adoptable outcomes for industry.

As one of Australia’s key rural RD&E investors, AgriFutures Australia uses this program to commission research aligned with its strategic R&D plan and individual industry RD&E plans, ensuring investment is targeted to priority challenges and opportunities across rural value chains. The program supports collaboration between industry, researchers and other stakeholders, helping rural industries adapt to structural, environmental and market change while contributing to the long‑term prosperity of Australian agriculture.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range: Grant amounts are determined on a case‑by‑case basis and are not specified as a fixed range; funding is allocated according to project scope and available program budget.
• Application open and close dates: Calls are released periodically via AgriFutures’ Funding Opportunities page, with each opportunity specifying its own opening and closing dates; applicants must check current calls to confirm timing.
• Eligible industries or business types: Organisations working with or on behalf of Australian rural industries, including emerging and established agricultural sectors and their value chains.
• Required co‑contributions: Co‑investment (cash and/or in‑kind) from applicants and partners is commonly expected, but specific co‑contribution levels are set in individual call guidelines.
• Location/state/territory applicability: National program; projects must relate to Australian rural industries and deliver benefits within Australia.

Priority Sectors

AgriFutures RD&E investment focuses on established levied industries and a portfolio of emerging industries, with investment directed by industry‑specific RD&E and strategic plans. Priority sectors typically include emerging agricultural industries with potential to diversify and grow rural economies, along with selected levied industries such as rice, deer, goat fibre and other niche sectors covered by AgriFutures programs.

Where a specific RD&E funding call is issued, the detailed priority sectors and themes are defined in the individual call documentation, and applicants must align proposed projects with those published priorities. If no thematic call is specified, the program is open to a broad range of rural industries, provided proposals clearly align with AgriFutures’ strategic objectives and industry plans.

Funding Scope

The AgriFutures RD&E Investment program does not operate through fixed, standardised streams across all calls; instead, funding scope and any streams or categories are defined for each opportunity. Minimum and maximum grant amounts, where specified, are set at call level and may differ according to whether projects focus on feasibility work, applied research, technology development, extension or industry planning.

Eligible project duration is generally aligned with the nature and complexity of the RD&E activity, with multi‑year projects commonly supported under AgriFutures’ strategic RD&E plans for each industry. Applicants must review the relevant call documents to confirm the maximum project term, milestone structure and any requirements relating to staging, reporting and completion dates.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants are typically research, industry or service organisations (such as universities, CRCs, R&D providers, industry bodies or companies) capable of delivering applied RD&E for Australian rural industries.
• The lead organisation must be an established legal entity able to enter into a funding agreement with AgriFutures Australia.
• Projects must address one or more of AgriFutures’ strategic priorities and/or an industry‑specific RD&E plan and demonstrate clear benefits to Australian rural industries.
• The project must primarily relate to Australian agriculture or rural industries and deliver outcomes applicable in the Australian context.
• Applicants are expected to demonstrate access to appropriate skills, experience, governance and project management capacity to successfully deliver the proposed RD&E.
• Compliance with AgriFutures’ contractual, reporting, risk and insurance requirements is mandatory; specific insurance and policy obligations are detailed in individual funding agreements and call documents.
• Applicants must commit the required cash and/or in‑kind co‑contributions where a particular call specifies co‑investment conditions.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

• Industry‑focused RD&E projects that address identified priorities for emerging and established rural industries, including productivity, sustainability, resilience and market development.
• Strategic research planning, framework development and analysis to guide future RD&E investment in emerging industries.
• Trials, demonstrations and applied research that accelerate the adoption of new practices, technologies and systems in rural industries.
• Extension, communication and capacity‑building activities to support knowledge transfer, industry engagement and uptake of research outcomes.
• Projects that explore new revenue opportunities, diversification options and circular economy models for rural industries.

Specific eligible and ineligible costs (for example, staff costs, operating expenses, equipment, travel and overheads) are set out in the documentation for each funding call and associated contract conditions.

Assessment Process

The AgriFutures RD&E Investment program is a competitive funding program; applications are assessed against published criteria and available budget for each call. Assessment typically considers project merit, alignment with AgriFutures’ strategic and industry RD&E priorities, and the expected benefits and adoption pathways for Australian rural industries.

Other key considerations usually include value for money, project design and methodology, capability of the project team, quality of partnerships and collaboration, and robustness of governance and risk management arrangements. Final funding decisions are made by AgriFutures in line with its internal processes and governance requirements, and not all meritorious proposals may be funded.

Recent Program Updates

AgriFutures continues to commission new RD&E work to better target its investment, including a recent project to identify emerging agricultural industries with strong potential to benefit from targeted RD&E investment. This project is developing a transparent, evidence‑based framework to prioritise emerging industries, helping guide future AgriFutures RD&E investment in line with structural shifts, market trends and Australia’s comparative advantages.​

Updated strategic RD&E plans, such as the AgriFutures Rice Program Strategic RD&E Plan 2021–2026 and other industry‑specific plans, continue to shape the priorities and scope of RD&E investments under this program. Applicants should review the latest strategic plans, industry pages and funding opportunities to ensure proposals reflect current priorities and program settings.

Application Tips

• Review the current Funding Opportunities page, relevant industry RD&E plan and AgriFutures’ strategic R&D plan before developing a proposal to ensure strong alignment with current priorities.
• Confirm all eligibility requirements in the specific call documentation, including any minimum co‑contribution levels, partnership expectations and insurance or compliance obligations.
• Develop a clear project logic that links activities, outputs and outcomes, demonstrating practical benefits, adoption pathways and measurable impacts for Australian rural industries.
• Assemble a capable project team and, where relevant, industry partners who can contribute expertise, data, facilities or co‑investment and support implementation and extension.
• Prepare required documentation early, including budgets, partner letters, risk assessments and project plans, and ensure all information is complete, internally approved and consistent across the application.

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. Pattens Group can support applicants to interpret program guidelines, structure proposals, and articulate project benefits and industry impacts in line with assessment criteria. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, visit the AgriFutures Australia Funding Opportunities page and the AgriFutures Australia RD&E Investment entry on business.gov.au, along with other relevant Australian Government and industry websites.