Farmer Incubator Program
The Northern Rivers Farmer Incubator Program
The Northern Rivers Incubator Program is a pilot collaboration between The Farm Byron Bay and Farmer’s Footprint Australia, with the purpose of establishing pathways for aspiring farmers into the local food industry.
The Program is positioned to provide an opportunity for participants to engage, upskill and attain an immersive hands-on experience that provides a network of diverse and unique support systems. Designed in response to the report, ‘Regeneration, Growing New Farmers’ written by Tanya Massey (2021), participants are provided with a range of resources such as access to land, production facilities, mentors, business training, avenues to market and engagement in a diverse community of networks and events.
Support mechanisms have been carefully considered in reflection of the report on barriers that typically inhibit the emergence and success of the next generation of farmers. In minimizing the barriers to entering the industry and achieving retainment of aspiring farmers, the Incubator Program presents opportunities to:
Support the establishment of new food and farming enterprises in the Northern Rivers Region
Encourage growth, diversity and strength in the Northern Rivers local food system
Contribute to the regeneration of land and topsoil; ensuring food security and resilience
Demonstrate an example of what is required across Australia, in creating frameworks for a prosperous and resilient national food system.
It intends to set an example of how the cooperation between local players, community council, private businesses, engaged community citizens, and carefully designed frameworks can aid the attraction and attainment of the current and emerging generations of young farmers across Australia. Should the pilot be successful, we hope to further develop the program in a way that can be replicated and scaled across both the immediate region and other peri-urban/rural communities across Australia.
Key learnings from the Pilot program will help to inform the future pathways into subsequent years, and be shared with the wider networks on how we, as a collective of individuals, communities, NGO’s, corporates and state government can support both our existing and future generations of Australian stewards.
Currently, our two farmer incubator participants are growing food on the allocated 0.5 acre plot at The Farm, and you can find them selling their produce every Friday morning at the Mullum Farmers Market.
If you’re interested in learning more about the development of the program, or would like to be involved, please reach out to jordyn.deboer@thefarm.com.au, or georgina.johnson@farmersfootprint.org.au