Phase out of Live Sheep Exports by Sea - transition support: Enhancing Market Demand Grants Program - Round 1

The Australian Government is inviting applications via an open process under the Program 1.9 Meat and Livestock Industry – Phase out of Live Sheep Exports by Sea transition support – Enhancing Market Demand program from 2024–25 to 2027–28.

The objectives of this program are to explore the opportunities to maintain and develop:

• interstate and overseas markets for Australian sheep products
• markets for Australian agri-food in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The program will provide grants for projects that:

• demonstrate broad support across relevant industry stakeholders and demonstrate application or benefit across industry/ies nationally
• provide research and analysis products (for example, market and consumer analyses)
• strengthen business relationships for the benefit of the Australian sheep industry or Australian agriculture and food industries nationally.

The export of live sheep by sea from Australia will end on 1 May 2028 and this will likely see more sheep being processed in Australia. Further, Australia’s live sheep exports by sea is predominantly destined for markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where food security and supply are priority issues in the region. Activities that enhance market demand are an important part of assisting with a smooth transition away from the live sheep by sea trade and so that Australia can continue to be a supplier of agricultural and food products to the MENA region.

The intended outcome of the program is that Australian sheep, agriculture and food industries and supply chain businesses have an increased understanding, knowledge or information about potential market opportunities and stronger business-to-business relationships. This will assist with planning for, and adapting to, the phase out of live sheep exports by sea.

Eligibility:

Applications can only be accepted  from:

• peak industry bodies
• Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs)
• consultants specialising in fields such as agriculture, economics, markets or trade
• research providers.

and you must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Local Government
• Non-corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Statutory Entity.

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust , the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types as listed above.