Landcare Sustainability Project Boosted by New Grant
A major Landcare sustainable farming project in South East Queensland will be extended, thanks to an additional $100,000 grant from Woolworths.
The project has united 40 graziers in the region to help manage land degradation and improve soil health through sustainable grazing practices.
The project began in 2008 with an initial $150,000 grant from Woolworths as part of its annual Backing Our Farmers day which raises funds to support drought affected communities across Australia.
The program extension was announced today at a Field Day for landholders, community groups and Woolworths staff members hosted by SEQ Catchments at “Rahane”, a 240Ha property at Oakey Creek, near Beaudesert on Friday 25th September.
SEQ Catchments’ CEO, Simon Warner, said feedback showed landholders liked and appreciated what Woolworths was doing to assure the sustainability and productivity of their properties.
He said: “The program helps farmers on how to graze sustainably resulting in a positive impact on the environmental, social and economic outcomes on their properties.”
SEQ Catchments has established demonstration sites and trials in the Logan, Albert and Lockyer regions allowing landholders to experiment with new grazing techniques to see how they can improve on their current practices.
The Woolworths Backing Our Farmers initiative has now donated more than $17 million in the last three years. One third of this money has gone to Landcare to set up and run a series of sustainable agriculture projects to help farmers develop best practice techniques and processes.
Woolworths Regional Manager Keith Vickery said: “95% of the fresh food sold by Woolworths is grown in Australia but, as we have seen in the last decade, our climate can be harsh and unpredictable".
“We need a thriving and sustainable agricultural industry to safeguard the future of our food supply chain, which is why we are delighted to support Landcare projects such as this one,” Mr Vickery said.
Released by:
Anthony Hill