The final round of the Banana Best Practice Fund has officially closed, with high demand and strong grower participation underscoring the industry’s commitment to protecting the Reef and improving on-farm sustainability.
Delivered by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) under the Banana Best Management Practice (BMP) Project, the Fund, supported by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, has helped 66 banana growers implement best-practice projects across more than 3,600 hectares since 2023.
Through six rounds of funding, the program has supported 83 separate initiatives to make on-farm improvements aimed at reducing nutrient, pesticide and sediment runoff from banana farms in Great Barrier Reef catchments.
The final round six received 25 applications, with 23 new projects successfully funded to commence this year.
Funded projects as of Round six have included:
- 46 upgraded spreaders and fertigation systems – complying with Reef regulations and reducing leaching
- 24 site-specific solutions to reduce erosion – including contour planting, block levelling, and improved roads and drains
- 21 side-throw slashers – adding organic matter to banana beds and reducing erosion and P loss
- 2 machinery upgrades for permanent beds – reducing cultivation
- 3 nutrient management and soil health trials – large scale composting and GPS rate control
Together, these works will prevent an estimated 611 tonnes of fine sediment and 2.8 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from leaving Great Barrier Reef catchments each year.
Industry Strategy Manager of ABGC Michelle McKinlay said the program’s success was proof of growers’ long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and productivity.
“Through six rounds of the Banana Best Practice Fund, 66 growers have taken part, delivering on-farm improvements across more than 3,600 hectares, around one-third of Australia’s banana industry.
“The strong response to this final round shows that growers are serious about making lasting changes that benefit both their farms and the Reef,” said Michelle.
“Through co-investment, growers have led the way in adopting better technologies, improving soil and water management, and demonstrating the banana industry’s ongoing leadership in sustainability.”
East Palmerston banana grower Kayla Zecchinati said a block contouring project on her property addressed long-standing erosion issues caused by the paddock’s original layout and limited drainage.
“Before the project, we were experiencing significant topsoil loss due to the way the block was laid out and the lack of effective drainage,” Kayla said.
“Funding through the Banana BMP project enabled us to redesign the paddock to follow the natural contours of the land, add a new road, and relocate the irrigation system.
“We’re now able to get into this block during the wet, which is a huge improvement. It’s performing much better than our other blocks and has given us the confidence to roll this approach out across the rest of the farm.”
“Since 2023, a total of $2.92 million has been invested, with $1.32 million provided through the Fund and $1.6 million co-invested by growers, plus $18,000 in in-kind support.
“This program has built real momentum in the banana industry,” Michelle said.
“It’s a perfect example of government and industry working hand-in-hand to deliver tangible benefits for the environment and for farming businesses.”
Growers who submitted funding applications to the final round of the BMP project have been contacted with the outcome of their submission.
The Banana BMP’s Best Practice Fund is funded under the Banana Best Management Practice (BMP) Project (2023–2026). The Banana BMP is funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council in partnership with growers.