Future Drought Fund (FDF)
The Future Drought Fund (FDF) is an Australian Government initiative designed to strengthen long-term resilience to drought across farms, communities, and natural landscapes.
In Tasmania, three complementary FDF programs are being delivered:
Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs (TAS Farm Innovation Hub);
Farm Business Resilience Program (FBR);
Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program (RDRP).
Each program has a targeted focus, but all are working toward a shared vision: shifting the state’s approach to drought from reactive crisis management to a proactive, coordinated and preventative approach, building long-term resilience. By building capacity at both the farm and regional levels, these programs aim to transform how Tasmania anticipates, prepares for, and responds to future dry conditions.
Tasmania’s three FDF programs each have a distinct focus, collectively addressing the diverse aspects of drought resilience across the state. Below is a brief overview of each program:
Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs Program
The Tasmanian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, known as the TAS Farm Innovation Hub, is part of a network of hubs across Australia supporting farming communities in preparing for drought and adapting to a changing climate. Hosted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania, the Hub has staff located in the north, north-west, and south of the state. It brings together researchers, farmers, industry experts, natural resource managers, and members of the Aboriginal community to co-design and implement initiatives that provide farmers with critical information and foster innovation within their businesses.
Farm Business Resilience Program
The FBR program 2022-25 is delivered by the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania through in partnerships with DairyTas and RMCG. This program helps individual farmers with business coaching, risk management strategies, and access to resources and tools to support them as they adapt to change (including climate). It helps farmers to work on their business, developing a farm business resilience plan with actions that are prioritised for risks and opportunities most relevant to their farm business.
Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program
Delivered by the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Resilience and Recovery team, the RDRP program aims to help communities across Australia be better prepared for and resilient to the impacts of future drought and climate variability events, through the development, implementation and refinement of regional drought resilience plans. In Tasmania, three plans have been developed for the north, north-west and southern regions of the state. Plans have been developed by communities, key stakeholders and government working together. Now finalised, plans provide a roadmap of actions individuals, communities and organisations can take to help their communities prepare for a changing climate.