The plan would see the establishment of a new regional Victorian collaborative research centre, VicSoil, in which primary producers and researchers can come together to better manage Victoria’s environmental assets.
The $100 million would be delivered over 10 years to research better ways of productively and sustainably managing soils. It would link the proposed VicSoil with the national Soil Cooperative Research Centre to build on existing partnerships.
Nationals candidate for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said the plan highlighted the party’s commitment to protect future agriculture activity in Victoria and would help farmers increase productivity.
“Our plan is a real solution to strengthen Victoria’s vital agricultural sector,” Ms Cleeland said.
Victoria’s agriculture sector employs 150,000 people and produces an economic output of more than $17.8 billion.
Ms Cleeland said the policy would help tackle climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as address the problem of land degradation.
“This commitment means the latest research in soil environmental benefits will make its way into practice sooner and working with the national Soil CRC also means Victoria can collaborate with researchers and industry around Australia,” she said.
Ms Cleeland, who owns a working farm, said soil was vital in underpinning the local agricultural industry and that research was vital to ensure the agricultural sector’s survival.
“The conservation of natural assets is so important to my family and I on our farm where our core value is to preserve and nurture our natural assets,” she said.
”Our farmers need innovative ways to achieve their net zero ambitions and to protect our natural environment.”
