A round of grant funding will be offered to industry to develop projects and initiatives to support the growth, retention, and sustainability of the agricultural workforce.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce and Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said the $7.3 million AgUP grants program would encourage the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector to lead efforts to meet their workforce needs.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the AgUP program would help industry to take control of the key resource that underpins their future – people.

“By supporting these initiatives, we can build up the industry workforce in a way that is sustainable and so businesses and the regions that rely on them can keep good people,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Training, retaining and growing the workforce is just one way that we can support the industry to become a $100 billion sector by 2030.”

Minister Littleproud said Agriculture is only as good as its people.

“It’s always a shame when agriculture, fisheries or forestry lose a good worker because they can’t see a career pathway that works for them.

“The AgUP grants program is about supporting industry led initiatives to develop career pathways and upskill, train and mentor agricultural workers.

“We want to see opportunities within these industries for Australians who want them. That means making sure workers know that they can progress and grow their careers while still staying in the primary industries sector.”

More information on the AgUP Grants Program is available at www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/agricultural-workforce or at www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants.