February 3, 2009

Under the Wheat Export Technical Market Support Grants Program, A$600,000 will be allocated over three years to assist Australian companies that are new to marketing and exporting wheat to deliver effective technical market support to their customers, according to a US Department of Agriculture attache report posted Monday (February 2) on the Foreign Agricultural Services Web site.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Tony Burke, has urged exporters to apply for grants under a new grants program - the Wheat Export Technical Market Support Grants Program. The program is funded as part of the government's A$9.37 million transitional assistance package following the introduction of a new bulk wheat export marketing system in 2008.

The Wheat Export Technical Market Support Grants program recognizes the challenges faced by new exporters trying to develop technical market support arrangements that were traditionally conducted by AWB Ltd prior to deregulation. Minister Burke has acknowledged that technical market support should be the responsibility of exporters, but stated that it will take time for new entrants to develop support arrangements.

Funds under the program are available to all exporters, with priority to be given to new or smaller exporters or niche marketers. It is designed to support innovative export ideas which establish long-term sales relationships, rather than one-off sales or new product development. Applicants must demonstrate that any funding received will be used to develop effective long term sales relationships, rather than one-off sales events.

"The grants will assist new exporters and help to develop new sales opportunities for wheat, particularly in niche markets," Mr. Burke said. "The Government wants to help exporters take advantage of the opportunities available in the new marketing environment which has given choice to growers for the first time in 60 years."The program will benefit exporters who are new to the business or have less experience or financial capacity to deliver effective technical market support."

Work eligible for funding under the program includes:

Using consultants to advice on technical market support; "visiting potential customers and bringing buyers to Australia to establish and develop market opportunities; and "technical assistance on processing Australian wheat to meet customer requirements."