The state government has allocated $3.34 million of funding in the second round of the Rural Economic Development Grants program.
Offering emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions to build industry and grow employment opportunities across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland, 14 projects have received funding in the latest round, which are expected to create more than 600 jobs across the sector.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said leading producer of organic free-range poultry, Inglewood Organic, will use their grant to overcome supply chain issues and enhance sustainable growth within the organic poultry industry.
"The severity of drought in Australia has led to a nation-wide shortage of Australian grain causing supply chain shortages and inflation on grain prices," Mr Furner said.
"As a result, businesses like Inglewood Organic have scaled back on production, limiting the growth and productivity of their business.
"To address these issues, Inglewood Organic plan on expanding their operations by establishing their own certified organic grain production.
"Inglewood Organic will utilise existing land by setting up centre pivot irrigation systems and exclusion fencing to ensure grain is available not just during hard times but all year round."
The funding will help the development of broad-acre irrigated organic crops to boost their own supply of organic stockfeed for their poultry business.
Inglewood Organic managing director Katrina Hobbs said the project would increase production of 100,000kg of chicken per year.
"A boost in production levels will also enable the company to roll out a range of new products targeted towards the largest growing segment of the organic market in Australia," Ms Hobbs said.
"Inglewood Organic is the largest employer in the local community and the creation of further jobs and opportunities will continue to benefit the community and local economy."
Carey Brothers abattoir on the Southern Downs also received funding which will enable them to repurpose cattle hides.
The business currently sells cattle hides to the overseas leather market, largely in Asia, however demand has severely diminished due to the cheaper synthetic leather products.
This funding will allow the business to upgrade their abattoir infrastructure by purchasing a specially-designed large batch cooker.
The pressurised by-product batch cooker will allow Carey Brothers to repurpose the oversupply of cattle hides into meat meal protein for pigs and poultry and tallow.
Company director Mark Carey said they currently had to pay to have the hides freighted to Brisbane, so the new cooker would be more cost efficient for the abattoir.
"The demand for cattle hides has changed drastically in the past three years and the purchase of a larger batch cooker will allow us to efficiently cook the hides to produce these by-products," he said.
The project will create up to 16 full time employment opportunities directly and indirectly in the region.
