Sustainable Farming Fund celebrates 10 years

Community-led innovation, collaboration, and sustainability are the themes of a new report, Ten Years of Grassroots Action, released today to mark 10 years of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Sustainable Farming Fund.

The report highlights around $200 million that has been invested by government and communities in nearly 700 primary sector projects to develop more sustainable practices which deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.

“There have been many successes. Some have become very high profile and created real long-term increases in productivity within the industries and communities involved,” says MAF’s Deputy Director General of Policy, Paul Stocks.

“Ten Years of Grassroots Action provides an insight into the success of the SFF along with some examples of innovative farmer, grower and forester-led projects from over the years.

“Projects such as improving the water quality in Aorere catchment, Golden Bay and reducing kiwifruit spray drift feature in the report and show how a community can take ownership of a problem and bring about on-the-ground change.”

In Golden Bay, dairying was impacting on mussel farming - which had become almost unviable. A group of farmers got together and applied for SFF funding to work out a way of improving catchment water quality which would benefit the whole community.

In the kiwifruit industry, the SFF funded the adoption of a new innovative technology which has reduced spray drift and is now used by up to 80 percent of kiwifruit spray contractors.

Mr Stocks says the Fund works because it is based on government/community partnerships. “All SFF funding is matched by cash or in-kind by industry, community groups and individuals.

“The SFF is responsive to the primary sector’s needs and takes a “grassroots up” approach. It supports a broad range of projects from across the sectors, from Northland to Southland and even the Chatham Islands.

Currently, the SFF grants up to $9 million annually to projects which contribute to the sustainable growth of New Zealand’s land-based primary industries.

“The SFF will continue to support a wide range of projects based on innovation and leadership within the primary sector.

“This type of farmer-initiated work will never stop as the sectors continue to evolve and respond to their economic, environmental and social surroundings.”

Ten Years of Grassroots Action was formally launched on Monday at the Beehive by Agriculture Minister David Carter to an audience of industry stakeholders and farmers and growers.

For a copy of Ten Years of Grassroots Action and more information on the Sustainable Farming Fund visit: www.maf.govt.nz/sff

ENDS

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