Food to Market Program
Food to Market was a $15 million commitment under the 2020 strategy for Agriculture in Victoria to provide financial support for projects investing in our agri-food supply chain.
Program overview
The Food to Market program invested in projects to support jobs, deliver productivity improvements and capitalise on new opportunities across the agri-food supply chain. Projects helped to fast-track economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and deliver more resilient supply chains.
The program was launched on 31 March 2021 with a high volume of funding requests received. The program closed on 29 April 2021.
Objectives of the program
Key objectives of this program were to:
- increase supply chain efficiency and productivity
- grow existing export markets and access new export markets
- close critical gaps in domestic production and supply chains
- increase value add to Victorian production
- increase collaborative and shared resources along the domestic supply chain.
Projects eligible for funding
A wide range of projects that supported the objectives of the program were considered for funding.
Examples of projects that were eligible for funding included projects to:
- address a supply chain issue that presents barriers to domestic processing capability
- take up new technology and innovation
- grow export markets including access to new markets for existing or new products
- improve supply chain productivity and cost competitiveness
- improve data collection and analysis for improved decision making along supply chains
- provide import replacement or re-onshore supply chains
- design and implement new systems that improve supply-chain networks and partnerships
To be eligible for funding applicants needed to demonstrate that:
- projects aligned with program objectives
- benefits to be delivered by the project would extend to other agri-food participants along the supply chain, or to the agri-food sector or supply-chain more broadly.
Funded projects
Project funding under the program was announced on 31 August 2021, with the program supporting 13 key industry and regional peak bodies to deliver projects providing whole-of-industry benefits.