Grant status: Closed (closed 13 February 2023)
The expanded version of the Australian Government’s Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) program provided grants for projects that harnessed opportunities to access new markets and strengthen market presence through existing channels for agricultural commodities affected by market disruptions and which have restricted access to key destination markets.
The expanded ATMAC program was a non-competitive grant program that provided grants totalling $26.5 million over 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 to expand and diversify trade in Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors into emerging export markets and/or export markets with high-growth potential.
Trade diversification and expansion is key to Australia’s future prosperity, as well for the industry to reach their goal of a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030. ATMAC provided a mechanism for the government to enter strategic partnerships, developed jointly with industry, that support trade diversification and expansion and provide direct benefits for the sector.
The program is now closed for new applications.
Who benefits
Industry associations, including peak bodies and Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) received grants under the ATMAC program. Grant applications needed to demonstrate broad support across industry stakeholders and include a meaningful co-contribution (financial and/or in-kind). The nature of the arrangements varied depending on the sector, export markets and diversification activities being targeted.
What is supported
Activities eligible for support under ATMAC included, but were not limited to:
- investments that support trade expansion
- international marketing and promotion plans
- research and development
- training and education
- information exchange
- feasibility studies
- competitor analyses or sector or market analyses
- export strategy development
- targeted relationship development
- influencing the evolution or adoption of international standards and protocols.
How applications were processed
Applicants were required to contact the department by 13 February 2023 for an application to be eligible for consideration. The program is now closed to new applications.
The ATMAC Grant Guidelines advised how applications for assistance were made under the ATMAC program. Applications were made using the approved application form which was then reviewed by the department to determine whether it was eligible under the program.
Eligible applications were then reviewed by the ATMAC Industry Advisory Group (IAG) comprised of leaders of major agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries and representing a range of peak industry bodies and exporters. The IAG provided expert advice on the merits of proposals, value for money and their alignment with identified priorities and current export market challenges from an industry perspective. The IAG’s advice ensured ATMAC grant applications were aligned with industry priorities and was a crucial step for progressing a successful application.
Following IAG review and feedback, the ATMAC Assessment Panel (comprised of senior departmental officers with responsibilities for trade and export-related activities) assessed applications to ensure they aligned with government policy and made recommendations for funding. Applications were assessed against defined criteria, including contribution to the objectives of the program, addressing a specific need, capability of the grantee to undertake the grant activities, value-for-money, due diligence and risk.
Decisions on the awarding of grants under the ATMAC program were made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry based on the recommendations of the Assessment Panel.
Successful applicants then executed an ATMAC Grant Agreement to receive funding, acquit grant expenditure through financial declarations, and report on the progress and completion of their project.
Download
ATMAC Application Template (DOCX 45 KB)
ATMAC Budget Template DOC (39 KB)
ATMAC Risk Assessment Template DOCX 39 KB)
ATMAC Grant Guidelines (PDF 153 KB)
ATMAC Grant Guidelines (DOCX 236 KB)
ATMAC Industry Advisory Group feedback on applications (PDF 157 KB)
ATMAC Industry Advisory Group feedback on applications (DOCX 232 KB)
Frequently asked questions (PDF 174 KB)
Frequently asked questions (DOCX 232 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
List of grants awarded in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 under the expanded ATMAC program
2022-23 |
||
| Recipient | Project name | Grant amount (GST exclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| AEXCO Pty Ltd | Diversification of the Australian export fodder industry into new markets in South-East Asia and the Middle East | $658,200.00 |
| Apple and Pear Australia Limited | Enhanced market access for apples to Japan: systems approach for fumigation-free trade | $450,000.00 |
| Australian Cotton Shippers Association and Cotton Australia – phase 3 | Taking Australian Cotton to the World – Realising the Opportunity | $890,401.25 |
| Australian Grape and Wine – phase 3 | Australian grape and wine sector market diversification framework implementation (Stage 3) | $489,091.48 |
| Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters Association | Diversification of export markets for Australian leather by building its environmental credentials and educating critical markets. | $562,300.00 |
| Australian Nut Industry Council – phase 2 | Australian Nut Industry Trade & Market Expansion Program Round 2 | $480,000.00 |
| Australian Renderers Association | Diversification of export markets for Australian rendered products in Asia | $460,900.00 |
| AUSVEG Ltd | Understanding compliance and commercial drivers in overseas markets to maximise trade outcomes | $121,350.00 |
| Grains Australia Limited – phase 2 | Projects that provide further opportunities to diversify production and export of Australian grain | $574,000.00 |
| Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited – phase 2 | India supply chain mapping | $350,000.00 |
| Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited for the Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group (dairy, meat, horticulture, wine, and seafood sectors) – phase 2 | Amplifying impact in our key export markets | $600,000.00 |
| Infant Nutrition Council – phase 2 | Developing new export markets for Australia’s infant formula industry | $300,000.00 |
| Jersey Australia and Holstein Australia | Expand trade for the Australian genetics and livestock sectors into premium export markets with a high-growth potential | $75,450.00 |
| Meat & Livestock Australia Limited – phase 2 | Export market diversification for Australian red meat in India | $145,000.00 |
| Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia | Export Market Strategy for the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Industry including an International Engagement Strategy | $250,000.00 |
| Seafood Industry Australia – phase 3 | Market access and market development proposal for the Australian seafood industry – phase 3 | $165,000.00 |
| WoolProducers Australia Limited – phase 2 | Ensuring a sustainable Australian Wool Industry through market diversification and risk mitigation - Phase 2 | $800,000.00 |
| 2021-22 | ||
| Australian Cotton Shippers Association and Cotton Australia – phase 2 | Taking Australian Cotton to the World - Market Diversification & Supply Chain Expansion & Education | $1,411,000.00 |
| Australian Grape and Wine – phase 2 | Australian Grape and Wine Sector Market Diversification Framework Implementation - Stage 2 | $1,817,000.00 |
| Berries Australia | Post-COVID19 international market program for Australian berry industries | $239,000.00 |
| Citrus Australia | Australian Citrus to India: 30,000 tonnes by 2030 | $485,771.00 |
| Forest and Wood Products Australia | Splinters to Structures: Value Adding to Exported Wood Fibre | $1,183,000.00 |
| Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative | Value-adding, market expansion and market diversification for Australian lobster | $1,926,000.00 |
| Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited – phase 1 | Australian Horticulture International Demand Creation | $2,040,000.00 |
| Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited for the Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group (dairy, meat, horticulture, wine, and seafood sectors) – phase 1 | Australian Food and Wine Collaboration Group Market Expansion Initiative | $500,000.00 |
| Infant Nutrition Council – phase 1 | Diversifying Australia's Infant Formula Exports | $160,000.00 |
| National Farmers' Federation | National Farmers' Federation International Engagement Strategy | $210,000.00 |
| Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd and the Australian Sugar Milling Council | Diversifying and Enhancing Market Access for the Australian Sugar Exports | $539,000.00 |
| Red Meat Advisory Council | Australian Red Meat Market Diversification Program | $752,600.00 |
| Seafood Industry Australia – phase 2 | Seafood Industry Australia: Marketing, Access, and Export Development Proposal for the Australian Seafood Industry - Year 2 | $1,275,000.00 |
| WoolProducers Australia Limited – phase 1 | Ensuring a Sustainable Australian Wool Industry through Market Diversification and Risk Mitigation | $662,000.00 |
| 2020-21 | ||
| Australian Cotton Shippers Association and Cotton Australia– phase 1 | Taking Australian Cotton to the World - Market Diversification & Supply Chain Expansion & Education | $692,456.00 |
| Australian Grape and Wine – phase 1 | Australian Grape and Wine Sector Market Diversification Framework | $998,000.00 |
| Australian Nut Industry Council – phase 1 | Nut Industry Trade and Market Access Expansion Program | $550,000.00 |
| Dairy Australia | Reduction of Technical Barriers to Trade for Australian Dairy in South East Asia | $310,000.00 |
| Grains Australia Limited – phase 1 | Market Diversification for Australian Grains Industry - Beyond China | $969,480.00 |
| Meat & Livestock Australia – phase 1 | Australian Red Meat Export Market Diversification: Saudi Arabia / Thailand / Vietnam | $1,520,000.00 |
| Seafood Industry Australia – phase 1 | Marketing, Access and Export Development Proposal for the Australian Seafood Industry | $887,727.27 |
| Total grant funding | $26,499,727.00 | |
Further information
For further information on the ATMAC program please contact: ATMAC@aff.gov.au