By Olivia Condous
Moorabool is making strides in sustainability, with two local organisations receiving grants to conduct important research in how to better utilise organic waste to divert it from landfill.
Terra Nova Ag in Fiskville and Gaia EnviroTech in Bungaree each received $300,000 through the Recycling Victoria Research and Development Fund (Organic), a Victorian government initiative designed to boost the value of recycled organic products and support agriculture.
The total six companies who received funding will conduct research and projects to help improve soil quality, boost crop production and develop recycled organics markets.
The initiative aims to help Victorians household garden waste and food scraps be better used in farms, parks and gardens.
According to Sustainability Victoria, the state produces about one quarter of Australia’s food waste which costs $6 billion each year in product value and disposal and uses 29 billion litres of water.
The projects will all aim to help to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill and reach the goal of halving food and organic waste over the next decade.
Victorian environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the government was working to find new ways to use organic waste.
“Kerbside reform has increased the supply of organic waste, this funding will support the development of new ways to use this material in our parks and our paddocks.”
