$7.5 million boost to help farmers cut emissions

The NSW Government is ramping up efforts to cut emissions from the agriculture and land sector, with $7.5 million in funding now available through the second round of its High Impact Partnerships grants. Agriculture is the state’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the sector has a critical role to play in helping NSW reach net zero. High Impact Partnerships back projects that reduce emissions, remove historic emissions from the atmosphere, and deliver benefits like healthier land, stronger farm businesses, more jobs and restored ecosystems. Under Round 2, organisations can apply for grants of between $500,000 and $2 million, covering up to 50 per cent of project costs. Projects could include increasing soil carbon, managing animal waste, reforesting native species, establishing plantation forestry, or restoring tidal flows to wetlands. High Impact Partnerships are part of the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement Program (PIPAP). The program is designed to build capacity across the agriculture and land sector, generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), and strengthen the pipeline of carbon offsets needed to support hard-to-abate industries. The first round of High Impact Partnerships, launched in 2022, invested $6.8 million across six large-scale projects. This includes everything from koala-friendly carbon plantings to blue carbon wetlands, with partners contributing a further $17.6 million. Together, they are expected to deliver 1.8 million tonnes of abatement by 2050. Applications are now open and close on 1 December 2025. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/high-impact-partnership-grants-round-2 NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Executive Director Jenny Merkley said the funding will help boost regional economies. “We know the agriculture and land sector holds some of the greatest opportunities to cut emissions while also supporting biodiversity, farm productivity and strengthening regional economies," she said. “By working collaboratively in partnership with farmers, industry and land managers, this program is helping to scale up projects that not only tackle climate change but also deliver real benefits on the ground.”