Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Land
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water resources for agriculture, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Biodiversity
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Invasive species
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Wildlife trade
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us Enhancing Australia’s agriculture, environment, heritage and water resources through regulation and partnership.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    A day in the life

    A day in the life...

    Our video series showcases the diverse and important work we do.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Farming, food and drought
  4. Drought and rural support
  5. Future Drought Fund
  6. Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program
  7. Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs

Sidebar first - Farming

  • Drought Resilience Research and Adoption program
    • Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program webinar
      • Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs
        • Drought Resilience Innovation Grants
        • Science to Practice Forum

Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs

The 8 hubs support farmers and communities to get ready for drought. They connect farmers with regional agricultural experts, innovation and new practices.

A Knowledge Broker is available at each hub. Their role is to translate science into practice for their region. They use their network to encourage collaboration and learning across the hubs. They also help build connections with other Future Drought Fund programs.

In January 2022, the Australian Government announced an extra $3 million for the hubs to host Regional Soil Coordinators. They will help farmers and land managers improve their soil management. This will increase their productivity, profitability, and sustainability.

In March 2022, an extra $9 million was announced for Adoption Officers. Adoption Officers will work with farmers and their communities to pick up the relevant tools, knowledge and support provided by the hubs and others.

Activities

Hub activities have been designed in collaboration with famers to meet local needs. Examples include:

  • on-farm trials of transformational technologies and practices
  • training farmers in the use of decision-support tools
  • upskilling farmers in innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation.

Hub locations

 

fdf-hubs-map_aus_1-sml.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 8 hubs in major climatic and agriculture zones across Australia. Each hub has several nodes, reaching across their region. Currently the hubs and nodes cover over 40 locations and involve 143 partners.

See more about each hub

Southern NSW

Southern QLD/Northern NSW

South-West WA

Victoria

Northern WA/NT

Tropical North QLD

South Australia

Tasmania

Hub expansion

In October 2021, the Australian Government announced it would provide an extra $20 million in funding to the hubs. The funding will make it easier for industry to connect with the hubs and drive innovation. This will support national agricultural innovation.

Background

The 8 hubs were launched in April 2021 following a competitive grants process.

7 hubs are led by regional universities. The remaining hub is led by a grower group. Hubs are consortia of researchers, industry, entrepreneurs, government, resource managers, and producer and community groups.

The hubs are funded for 4 years. Their funding will be reviewed with the Drought Resilience Funding Plan.

Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Advisory Committee

In May 2021, an independent advisory committee was established to manage the hubs. The committee is also responsible for the Drought Resilience Research and Adoption program.

The committee provides a national perspective on the hub activities. It also provides advice to the minister and the department.

Committee members

Brent has 40 years' experience in agriculture.

He is managing director of Finlay Agricultural Industries (FIA). FIA provides strategic advice to agricultural enterprises.

Brent is independent chair of Granite Belt Water (GBW). GWB is building a new dam and irrigation scheme for horticulture in the Darling Downs.

Brent was president of the National Farmers' Federation. He was also president of AgForce Queensland. He represented Oceania at the World Farmers' Organisation in Rome.

Brent runs sheep property, Coorinda, in the traprock area of south east Queensland.

James was Professor of Animal Science at the University of New England.

His doctorate is in animal nutrition.

James was CEO of the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation. He has worked with government, and public and private sector companies.

James contributed to many innovative sheep production and feeding systems, like ASKBILL. ASKBILL predicts sheep wellbeing and productivity using weather, pasture, and stock information.

Caroline is deputy chair of GWMWater. GWMWater secures water supply and sewerage systems for western inland Victoria.

Caroline was the director of Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) for 9 years and a board member for 15. BCG uses research and extension to improve the success of broadacre farmers.. 

She has worked for government in agricultural communication, irrigation development and climate variability.

Caroline is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Caroline lives in Berriwillock in Victoria's Mallee region. She is a partner in a family grain farm.

Dale is the director of Kilandra Pastoral Co and manager of DH & JM Park.

Dales' industry knowledge is in agribusiness and new business development.

Dale was president of the Western Australian Farmers' Federation. He is passionate about representing producers.

Dale has a longstanding interest in drought resilience. He is a board member of Farmers for Climate Action. He is also a member of the National Farmers' Federation environment committee.

Dale farms cattle in Badgingarra, north of Perth.

Trent is the CEO of biotechnology company Novum Lifesciences. His expertise is in food technology, manufacturing, and processing.

Trent was the director of the AustChilli Group. AustChilli is Australia's largest supplier of fresh chilli and innovative food ingredients.

He is passionate about innovation, problem solving and scaling businesses.

Trent has served on agriculture boards including the Agricultural Industry Advisory Council.

Trent is a 2013 Nuffield Scholar. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Christine is a global leader in agtech and food tech, including supply chains and harnessing innovation.

She is the founder and CEO of the Food Futures Company. The company develops cutting edge agrifood technologies, products, and business models.

Christine is the co-founder of Farmers2Founders. Farmers2Founders helps farmers launch new ventures or improve their existing operations.

Christine recently established GROW, an agrifood tech accelerator in Singapore. GROW is a joint venture with AgFunder.

Christine was previously the CEO of Meat and Livestock Australia’s Donor Company.

Bronwyn has significant research and higher education leadership experience.

She is passionate about innovation that makes our communities more resilient.

Bronwyn has led digital transformation projects in the agrifood sector. She has also developed engagement and commercialisation strategies with governments and industry.

Bronwyn's Board experience includes current membership of Queensland’s Innovation Advisory Council, the Cooperative Research Centres Advisory Committee, and the AgriFood Connect Board.

Contacts

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 08 April 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.