Announced as part of the Federal Government’s $210 million Reef Trust, $4.7 million will go towards supporting sugarcane farmers in the Wet Tropics and Burdekin regions to improve the efficiency of their operations.

Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg said runoff from agricultural land is one of the main threats to the health of the Reef and is linked to outbreaks of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish.

“This project will help farmers reduce runoff by better matching fertiliser application to crop requirements,” Frydenberg said.

“Successful farmers are already being contracted and collectively will deliver an estimated reduction of more than 140 tonnes of nitrogen entering the Reef over a five-year period,” he said.

A further project funding round is expected later this year.

Minister Frydenberg said he looked forward to working in partnership with sugarcane farmers in the region, to design future projects to improve both farm efficiency and environmental outcomes. 

Successful applicants must be accredited under industry standards.

The Australian and Queensland governments are investing more than $2 billion over the coming decade to improve the health of the Reef through the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan. 

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