Sprout Producer Program strengthens resilience for small-scale producers across Tasmania

Case studies

Sprout Producer Program strengthens resilience for small-scale producers across Tasmania

The Sprout Producer Program (SPP) is a 12-month program to build capacity for Tasmanian small-scale farmers, producing food for their local communities. Participants can be farming any type of enterprise and be at any stage of their journey. The main components of the program are field days, workshops, online group sessions and education. 

The program helps farming businesses with all aspects of farming, from on-farm landscape management and best-practice animal handling, through to business and marketing advice. It also provides support for farmers as they navigate the challenges of farming and enables small-scale farmers to build their networks. A small cohort fosters a connected group of like-minded producers who can learn from each other, as well as other farmers introduced throughout the program, to ensure they have a close network of support that enables them to work through challenging times, climate variability and supply chain interruptions. 

Sprout Producer Program participants visiting Valley Field Farm in Glen Huon, Tasmania. Photo by Libby McKay.

Content contributed by Ollie Benson, Sprout Tasmania.

Priority action areas

The regional plans share several common action areas. Shared action areas in the plans that are expected to have the greatest impact and will guide phase two of the program are summarised below.

Supply chains and food networks: Strengthen regional supply chains and food systems by identifying vulnerabilities and recommending solutions.
Freight and biosecurity: Conduct regional or statewide assessments to identify freight and biosecurity vulnerabilities and recommend solutions.
Integrated landscape-wide management: Expand landscape-wide drought and climate change management plans to consider long-term drought and climate variability impacts on biodiversity and natural values.
Ecological research and interventions: Research significant ecological communities vulnerable to drought, to understand effects of different interventions on improving species and landscape resilience.
Conservation investment: Invest in targeted conservation action for at-risk species and ecosystems.
Sustainable land management: Expand education, technical support and incentives that help landholders adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
Aboriginal knowledge: Recognise and share Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural knowledge and land practices, including on-country activities such as cultural burning.
Fire resilience: Improve fire management resources, training and infrastructure.
Critical infrastructure: Assess and strengthen regional energy, water and transport infrastructure to withstand climate risks and maintain essential services.
Communication systems: Improve digital connectivity and reduce communication blackspots.
Market diversification: Explore opportunities to diversify regional markets.
Mental health training: Provide specialised training to help communities respond to mental health challenges linked to drought and climate variability.
Climate adaptation coordination: Strengthen collaboration between government, industry and communities to deliver unified climate adaptation strategies.