Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg and Queensland Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Dr Steven Miles announced on Friday that a tender from consortium led by CANEGROWERS was successful. 

“60 trials over three cane growing seasons, across a wide range of production systems, soil types and climate zones, will be conducted,” Frydenberg said. 

“The new and more efficient fertilisers have the ability to better control the release of nutrients than conventional fertilisers and reduce losses. 

“This new generation of fertilisers have the potential to increase farmer profit margins through improving yields, whilst at the same time benefiting the Great Barrier Reef by reducing fertiliser run-off and thereby improving water quality.” 

Frydenberg said it was the first time both governments had jointly funded and delivered a project through the Reef Trust. 

“The trials will be supervised by Sugar Research Australia, the cane industry’s leading research organisation which has a deep understanding of all aspects of sugarcane agronomy,” Frydenberg said. 

“In addition, a National Environmental Science Programme project focused on on-farm nitrogen management will inform the design and monitoring of the trials to ensure they incorporate regional environmental conditions and production systems.”