New funding for 31 community-led projects

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has today announced funding of $9.8 million for 31 new Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) projects.

The SFF provides funding for projects led by farmers, growers, and foresters aimed at building economic, environmental and social sustainability in the primary sector. It has recently been replaced by MPI’s new Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) programme. The 31 projects were in the pipeline prior to its launch in October 2018.

“SFF has been instrumental in kicking off both small and large innovative, community-led projects, and laying the groundwork for SFF Futures,” says Steve Penno, Director of Investment Programmes.

“The new 31 projects cover areas from apiculture and dairy to soil management and horticulture, and are great examples of innovative thinking.

“These projects look at tackling problems or advancing opportunities for the community. They’ll contribute towards growing our regional economies, protecting our environment and providing social benefits for New Zealand.

“They range from a project aimed at building our apiculture industry’s capacity by training people on tree species that support bee populations, to one that’s about improving water quality through the use of plantain pastures to reduce Nitrogen leaching.

“Another project is looking to understand fish behaviour at pump stations and how to reduce the threat the stations have on native fish, while another involving five properties in the Central Hawke’s Bay will assess the opportunity for growing kiwifruit in the region.

“These 31 new projects, along with future SFF Futures projects, will help New Zealand continue to prosper.”
Future applications for new projects will be considered under SFF Futures.

Find out more about the new SFF projects: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/funding-and-programmes/sustainable-food-and-fibre-futures/sustainable-farming-fund-projects/

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