A Jess Wilson-led Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $5 million to establish Living Soils – Centre of Excellence for Soils, bringing farmers, universities and industry together to improve soil health, farm productivity and environmental sustainability.
Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said the initiative would reconnect Victorian farmers with the research, expertise and innovation needed to support the future of agriculture.
“Victoria’s soil underpins a $17.8 billion agriculture industry and supports 81,000 direct jobs,” Ms Kealy said.
“We want to bring farmers together with universities and Research and Development Corporations to encourage fresh research, blue-sky thinking and practical innovation that can make a real difference on the farm.
“Too much agricultural research and expertise has been lost from Victoria. We want to rebuild those connections and ensure our farmers have access to the latest knowledge and ideas.
“By bringing research and development back to Victorian agriculture, we can attract research investment and expertise through our universities and industry partnerships, while helping producers become more productive, competitive on the world stage and grow the value of Victoria’s agricultural output.”
The centre will have a regional focus, with the proposed Centre of Excellence to be based in the Wimmera.
Ms Kealy said the facility would also help address concerns about the rehabilitation of agricultural land following mining and other developments.
“Protecting our soil is about protecting the future of Victorian agriculture, supporting our farmers and ensuring productive land remains productive for generations to come.”
