The Project 

Title: Reefwise Farming Project 

Duration: 2025 – 2028 

Funding: The $7.4 million Reefwise Farming Project delivered by Reef Catchments is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. 

Summary:

Smarter on-farm decisions can deliver stronger crops, healthier waterways, and a more resilient future for farming. 

Reef Catchments, together with leading agronomy and industry partners, is supporting cane growers to enhance nutrient, pesticide, and irrigation management while maintaining or improving productivity and profitability. Through the program, landholders receive agronomic and technical guidance, along with financial incentives, to help overcome barriers to change. The program focuses on keeping nutrients and chemicals in the paddock and embedding best practice through lasting economic incentives, delivering measurable and ongoing improvements in downstream water quality, reducing pollutant impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Objectives 

• Build landholder capacity through training and agronomy support. 

• Promote sustainable practices and reduce chemical and nutrient pollutants. 

• Improve water quality outcomes by reducing nutrient and pesticide runoff. 

• Offer financial incentives for equipment upgrades (50:50 co-investment). 

• Identify priority sites for water quality improvement. 

• Monitor outcomes to demonstrate water quality improvements. 

Strategy 

The Reefwise Farming project will support up to 60 sugarcane growers with practical, on-farm solutions that fit their operation. By combining tailored advice, co-investment, and opportunities to learn from others, the project supports growers through: 

1. Targeted agronomic support

   Providing tailored, independent advice to support nutrient, chemical, and irrigation decisions at critical points in the season.

2. Fit-for-purpose equipment investment

   Using 50:50 co-investment grants to remove barriers to adopting best-practice management on farm.

3. Learning through doing

   Supporting growers to trial new practices, build confidence, and learn fromreal results. 

4. Peer-to-peer engagement

   Creating opportunities for growers to share experiences, challenges, and solutions with others in the region.

5. Measurable outcomes

   Tracking practice change and environmental outcomes in line with Reef 2050 and Paddock to Reef reporting frameworks.

By combining fit-for-purpose equipment with expert, locally relevant agronomic support, growers can make confident management decisions, close key knowledge gaps, and achieve stronger outcomes on farm. These activities aim to reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff, improve farm productivity, and help protect Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef – delivering benefits from paddock to reef. 

Get Involved 

Are you a sugarcane grower in the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac area? We are inviting 60 eligible growers to take part in this Reefwise Farming Project. 

Growers are encouraged to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) application form below to be considered for project involvement. Places are limited and strong interest is expected. 

Expression of Interest 

To express you interest in the Mackay Whitsunday Reefwise Farming project, please refer to the application form below. Should you require assistance with the application, please contact kevin.moore@reefcatchments.com  

Expression of Interest Form

Note: The project is limited to 60 participants across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region (see map below). Due to strong popularity, growers are encouraged to register their interest as early as possible to avoid missing out. 

Delivery Partner Organisations