Far North Queensland | Primary Industries Prosper 2050

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In addition to these regional actions, Far North Queensland will benefit from the statewide actions being delivered.

Accelerate AgTech pathways to adoption

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ09	Deliver a North Queensland AgTech adoption program, utilising peer learning, technology trials, and trusted community networks to enhance the adoption of AgTech among North Queensland producers across sectors.	2026	2028	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub; North Queensland Dry Tropics; James Cook University; University of Southern Queensland; Industry	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Create conditions for lasting investment growth

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ10	Advocate for the establishment of a scalable community investment model to enable local ownership of dairy farms and provide opportunities for young farmers to enter the industry.	2026	2027	Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative		Ease of business

Drive efficient and reliable supply chain, freight and transport infrastructure

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ16	Undertake planning to improve the efficiency of the transport network to enable primary industries productivity. For example - Gregory Developmental Road, Burke Developmental Road.	2026	2030	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
FNQ17	Investigate options and investment priorities for the upgrading of key roads to improve agriculture productivity. For example, may include roads such as Mulligan Highway, Kennedy Developmental Road, Gregory Developmental Road, Burke Developmental Road and Peninsula Developmental Road.	2026	2030	Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Drive northern grassfed beef production

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ01	Promote effective strategies to enhance land condition, genetics, and feedbase, boosting beef production and resilience.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Meat and Livestock Australia; Gulf Savannah Natural Resource Management	Market growth and value-adding

Expand markets and grow exports

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ02	Explore export pathway options for Far North Queensland product for defined globally competitive products into Asia through the Townsville Port, Cairns RTDC (and other freight forwarders) and Cairns International Airport to expand market access.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Port of Townsville; Industry	Market growth and value-adding
FNQ03	Deliver a multi-disciplinary, multi-organisation program to secure new export market access and grow horticultural exports for key Far North Queensland commodities.	2025	2031	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Hort Innovation; Industry	Market growth and value-adding

Facilitate business diversification

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ04	Develop a Far North Queensland cane expansion plan to lead new industry development, expansion and increase grower profitability and productivity, bolstering the long-term viability of the local industry.	2026	2027	Canegrowers	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Market growth and value-adding
FNQ05	Provide transitional support for Mossman canegrowers in consultation with the Mossman Advisory Committee.	2025	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Market growth and value-adding
FNQ06	Invest in agronomic and industry development services across the Mossman region to drive farming diversification to provide growers with strategies to enhance profitability, productivity and long-term sustainability.	2025	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Market growth and value-adding
FNQ07	Support Far Northern cotton and grains expansion, including research and development initiatives to support sustainable cropping systems and industry growth.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Far North Queensland Sustainable Cropping INC	Market growth and value-adding

Increase resilience to natural hazards and disasters

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ14	Develop and implement a regional, collaborative system in partnership with northern Queensland stakeholders to enhance more drought and climate resilience through social, cultural, economic and environmental programs.	2026	2029	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Far North Queensland Regional Organisations of Councils; Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance; James Cook University	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Optimise outcomes-based regulation and processes

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ11	Lead a targeted agricultural development forum, uniting primary industry investors and regulatory agencies to identify regulatory barriers in land tenure, vegetation management and water, opportunities to streamline approval pathways, and accelerate agricultural diversification and expansion.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Industry	Ease of business

Strengthen the Queensland Biosecurity System

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ15	Host a North Queensland Region Biosecurity Partners Forum to highlight regional priorities, showcase innovative approaches, and strengthen collaboration and shared responsibility.	2026	2027	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	None	Accelerated innovation, readiness and adoption

Support businesses with the skills and tools to grow

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ08	Develop and enhance peer-to-peer mentoring partnerships by industry leads for key agricultural industries in Far North Queensland reef catchments.	2026	2031	Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government	Terrain Natural Resource Management; Cape York Natural Resource Management; Industry	Skilled and agile workforce

Unlock access to water

ID	Action description	State date	Finish date	Lead	Partners	Priority area
FNQ12	Complete the statutory reviews and replacement of the Gulf, Mitchell and Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers (GABORA) water plans to balance the current and future water needs of agriculture, other industries, communities and the environment.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure
FNQ13	Analyse water demands and availability in the Cape York, Wet Tropics, Barron, Mitchell, Gulf and Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers water plan areas and find opportunities to unlock water to meet demands where possible, focussing on agriculture productivity.	2025	2028	Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, Queensland Government	None	Shared infrastructure

Last updated: 07 Aug 2026