A global soft drink manufacturer and an environment group are getting behind north Queensland sugar cane farmers.

Project Catalyst supports farmers who are developing practices that improve the quality of water leaving farms.

Project Catalyst was born in the Mackay Whitsundays area and is expanding to the Burdekin region in north Queensland. The initiative is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and Mackay Whitsunday natural resource management group Reef Catchments.

It’s expanding into north Queensland with the support of local natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics. NQ Dry Tropics CEO Scott Crawford said the initiative has already seen changes in the Mackay area. He says, “In the first year of Project Catalyst it improved soil, nutrient, pesticide, irrigation and storm water management on almost 5,000 hectares of farms.

“It’s greatly reduced pollutants running off farms and into nearby waterways.”

Ten farmers in Ayr and Home Hill are participating in Project Catalyst’s expansion into north Queensland. The Project supports growers by providing them with agronomic and economic support for practices like controlled traffic, irrigation efficiency and fertiliser management. Farmer Rob Ahern has been reducing inorganic fertiliser inputs in favour of using mill mud and agricultural bacteria.

“I’m involved in Project Catalyst because it gives me the chance to talk to other farmers here and in other districts. “I like to try to get other farmers to see alternative ways of growing cane than what they’re traditionally used to. I’m a big believer of showing people what I do and what a difference it can make and in helping farmers to reduce their production costs.” Rob says.

Scott Crawford says, “Project Catalyst is about supporting innovative growers and disseminating what they’re learnt to the sugar cane industry in Australia and overseas.”