Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF)Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF)

““Grassroots-up” FundGrassroots-up” Fund

Supports ‘Communities of Interest’ toSupports ‘Communities of Interest’ to::

• Capitalise on new opportunities:Capitalise on new opportunities:– TechnologiesTechnologies– Management practicesManagement practices– Emerging marketsEmerging markets

• Resolve common challengesResolve common challenges

• Share best practiceShare best practice

Integrating Profitability with Integrating Profitability with SustainabilitySustainability

En

viro

nm

enta

l

So

cialEconomicEconomicEconomic

Fit With Other FundsFit With Other Funds

MfE-SMF:MfE-SMF: Community-driven Community-driven

SFF:SFF: Farmer / Grower-driven Farmer / Grower-driven

Industry bodies:Industry bodies: Primarily $$ issue-driven Primarily $$ issue-drivenSFF:SFF: Primarily sustainability-driven Primarily sustainability-driven

PGSF:PGSF: Basic / fundamental research ( Basic / fundamental research (RR,d,e) ,d,e) SFF:SFF: Applied research and extension (r,D, Applied research and extension (r,D,EE))

TechNZ:TechNZ: Individual company Individual companySFF:SFF: Collective of farmers / growers Collective of farmers / growers

‘‘Rules of Thumb’Rules of Thumb’

Small SectorSmall Sector Large SectorLarge Sector

Environmental Environmental / Social/ Social

ResearchResearch

DevelopmentDevelopment

ExtensionExtension

(Research) (Research) DevelopmentDevelopment

ExtensionExtension

EconomicEconomic (Research)(Research)

DevelopmentDevelopment

ExtensionExtension

(Development)(Development)

ExtensionExtension

What does SFF fund?What does SFF fund?

YES √YES √

• Applied research Applied research

• Technology transfer / Technology transfer / extensionextension

• Field trials / demo sitesField trials / demo sites

• Irrigation feasibility studies Irrigation feasibility studies (Min. 50% co-funding) (Min. 50% co-funding)

(NO X)(NO X)

• Fundamental / long-term researchFundamental / long-term research

• Projects benefiting one business Projects benefiting one business or an individualor an individual

• Capital expenditureCapital expenditure

• Long-term, on-going costsLong-term, on-going costs

• Retrospective projectsRetrospective projects

SFF SupportSFF Support$$ • Funding available: $9.5M pa• Project type:

• Niche / Local / Scoping projects <$20k• Main projects $20k – $200k pa

• Project duration: 1–3 yrs• Oversubscription: Last round 215+ proposals req. >$30M

Expertise, Linkages & Facilitation

• Expertise:• Direct advice to project teams• Access to external expertise & information

• Linkages: Joining up related projects & teams• Facilitation: Wormwise Strategy; Catchment Catch-Up

Workshop; Small Crops Forum; etc.

Rest of the SFF TeamRest of the SFF Team

Pipsafe

New round: datesNew round: dates

November 2007November 2007 Funding round open – Funding round open – application forms on webapplication forms on web

11 February 200811 February 2008 Applications closeApplications close

Early April 2008Early April 2008 Phase 1 funding decisions Phase 1 funding decisions announcedannounced

Early May 2008Early May 2008 Phase 2 applications duePhase 2 applications due

Late June 2008Late June 2008 Phase 2 funding decisions Phase 2 funding decisions announcedannounced

Assessment CriteriaAssessment CriteriaPotential ImpactPotential Impact

• Consider Consider economiceconomic, , environmentalenvironmental and and socialsocial sustainability sustainability • Try to quantify — Size the Prize / Scope the HopeTry to quantify — Size the Prize / Scope the Hope• Likely uptakeLikely uptake• Assessed with respect to the CoIAssessed with respect to the CoI

User Commitment / Community of Interest (CoI)User Commitment / Community of Interest (CoI)• Farmers/Growers > Industry organisations > Consultants/ResearchersFarmers/Growers > Industry organisations > Consultants/Researchers• Engagement — Real vs. paper?Engagement — Real vs. paper?• Co-funding — Level / ratio depends on nature of activity & CoICo-funding — Level / ratio depends on nature of activity & CoI

Ability to DeliverAbility to Deliver • Is it technically sound?Is it technically sound?• Is the project logistically do-able?Is the project logistically do-able?

Value for MoneyValue for Money• Bang-for-buck?Bang-for-buck?

Assessment ProcessAssessment Process

• Extensive Pre-Panel InputExtensive Pre-Panel Input• Industry bodies / stakeholdersIndustry bodies / stakeholders• Government stakeholders (MAF, MfE, EECA, etc)Government stakeholders (MAF, MfE, EECA, etc)

• Panel Panel • Apply Criteria Project-by-Project (1–7 scale)Apply Criteria Project-by-Project (1–7 scale)• Generate Panel Consensus Score Generate Panel Consensus Score • Consider Balance Within & Across Sectors / RegionsConsider Balance Within & Across Sectors / Regions• Make Final Recs Based on $$ AvailableMake Final Recs Based on $$ Available

Giving your application the Giving your application the best chancebest chance

Community of InterestCommunity of Interest

Clearly written applicationClearly written application

Cash and in-kind contributionsCash and in-kind contributions

Community of Interest / Community of Interest / Applicant GroupApplicant Group

NZ Dairy FarmersNZ Vets, Dexcel

Reproductive Management Plan Team

NZ indoor tomato growers, HortNZ, Crop and Food

HortNZ Fresh Tomato Product Group

Northland farm foresters, researchers,

regional council

Tanes Tree Trust

What works?What works?

• Strong Community of InterestStrong Community of Interest– Proactive group of farmers / growers / forestersProactive group of farmers / growers / foresters– A strong project championA strong project champion

• Systems (holistic) approachSystems (holistic) approach

• Good two-way learning & information transferGood two-way learning & information transfer

Community of Interest :what Community of Interest :what works?works?

What is an example of your Community of What is an example of your Community of Interest?Interest?

What are the expectations of the group?What are the expectations of the group?

What has worked well for your group?What has worked well for your group?

Writing a clear application..Writing a clear application..

Your ideas?Your ideas?

Writing your applicationWriting your applicationWhat we want to know…What we want to know…

Who are you?Who are you?What are the issues?What are the issues?Why are they important?Why are they important?What is your project going to What is your project going to do about it?do about it?How are you going to go How are you going to go about it?about it?How much money do you How much money do you need to do this?need to do this?

Writing your applicationWriting your applicationSome hintsSome hints

Normal sized fonts – plenty Normal sized fonts – plenty of white space – make easy of white space – make easy to read to read

Assume readers won’t all be Assume readers won’t all be familiar with your industry/ familiar with your industry/ issues – explain the issues – explain the problem, don’t use jargonproblem, don’t use jargon

Use a direct, easy-to-Use a direct, easy-to-understand writing style (not understand writing style (not a “scientific style”)a “scientific style”)

Writing your applicationWriting your application

Be clear and specific about what you Be clear and specific about what you want to do so we can form a clear want to do so we can form a clear picture in our head.picture in our head.

Explain why what you are doing is Explain why what you are doing is different/ unique from any similar different/ unique from any similar work that has been done before – do work that has been done before – do your homework!your homework!

Remember – assessment is based Remember – assessment is based primarily on the written application – primarily on the written application – make it self-explanatory.make it self-explanatory.

Cash contributionsCash contributions

Max government funding (i.e. SFF + any Max government funding (i.e. SFF + any other central government funds): 80% of other central government funds): 80% of total projecttotal projectHowever… most projects average approx However… most projects average approx 55% SFF funding: partner funding (cash + 55% SFF funding: partner funding (cash + in-kind)in-kind)Large industry and/or large project = more Large industry and/or large project = more cash co-funding expectedcash co-funding expectedSFF is rarely the sole cash contributorSFF is rarely the sole cash contributor

In-kind contributionsIn-kind contributions

Need to be genuine!Need to be genuine!

Charge at the going rate (default $25/ hour Charge at the going rate (default $25/ hour labouring or $75/ hour professional time).labouring or $75/ hour professional time).

If it is not going to be invoiced to the If it is not going to be invoiced to the project then record as in-kind (e.g. project then record as in-kind (e.g. Regional Council may provide monitoring Regional Council may provide monitoring services as in-kind)services as in-kind)

Refer to guidelines for more detailRefer to guidelines for more detail

ContractingContracting

Our contractOur contract

Intellectual propertyIntellectual property

Contracting with your sub-consultants and Contracting with your sub-consultants and research providersresearch providers

Your experiences?Your experiences?

Cash flowCash flow

SFF has a set budget each year (1 July – 30 SFF has a set budget each year (1 July – 30 June financial year)June financial year)

You need to set up your budget correctly at the You need to set up your budget correctly at the start of the projectstart of the project

Everything is Everything is GST inclusiveGST inclusive

Payments 3 x per year with request for paymentPayments 3 x per year with request for payment

Advance payments possible – must be Advance payments possible – must be accounted for in future reportingaccounted for in future reporting

15% payable upon receipt of final report15% payable upon receipt of final report

Assessing in-kindAssessing in-kindStep 1: List all the different parties who potentially are Step 1: List all the different parties who potentially are contributors to the project and the contribution they are contributors to the project and the contribution they are likely to make.likely to make.

Step 2: Assign the contributions to the categories as set Step 2: Assign the contributions to the categories as set out in the SFF claim form and draw up an in-kind budget. out in the SFF claim form and draw up an in-kind budget. This will help you track progress overtimeThis will help you track progress overtime

Step 3: Devise a system for recording the individual Step 3: Devise a system for recording the individual contributions. Develop a system that works for you. contributions. Develop a system that works for you.

Step 4: Keep regular checks on how things are going. Step 4: Keep regular checks on how things are going. Ask your contributors to return a regular update of their Ask your contributors to return a regular update of their in-kind expenses. in-kind expenses.

Remember: Recording in-kind contributions is a matter of Remember: Recording in-kind contributions is a matter of horses for courses. It’s a matter of finding an approach horses for courses. It’s a matter of finding an approach that works for you and your group.that works for you and your group.

ReportingReporting

30 October – due 15 November30 October – due 15 November

28 February – due 15 March28 February – due 15 March

30 June – due 15 July30 June – due 15 July

Needs to be in on time!Needs to be in on time!

New reporting templateNew reporting template Web summaryWeb summary

What is a milestone?What is a milestone?Mark critical points in completion of the contracted work.Mark critical points in completion of the contracted work.

A significant development, event or accomplishment in A significant development, event or accomplishment in your plan of attackyour plan of attack

Achievements that help verify that the project is on track Achievements that help verify that the project is on track and on scheduleand on schedule

An essential component of good project managementAn essential component of good project management

Note:Note: Milestones should be closely related to the anticipated Milestones should be closely related to the anticipated project outcome/s, objectives and project budgetproject outcome/s, objectives and project budget

Milestones need to:Milestones need to:Describe what will be achievedDescribe what will be achieved

Be specific Be specific (If the milestone can be interpreted in more than one (If the milestone can be interpreted in more than one way it is not specific)way it is not specific)

Include success or quality measures Include success or quality measures (These are particularly (These are particularly important if you have contracted someone else to do the work.)important if you have contracted someone else to do the work.)

Include a Target DateInclude a Target Date

Milestones also need to be realistic – do you have the capacity ($Milestones also need to be realistic – do you have the capacity ($$ and people) to achieve them?$ and people) to achieve them?

Some examplesSome examples

Submitted milestoneSubmitted milestoneCommence literature search. Target date: Feb Commence literature search. Target date: Feb 2008.2008.

Revised milestoneRevised milestoneLiterature review Literature review of community attitudes to of community attitudes to landscape planning completed according to agreed landscape planning completed according to agreed terms of reference and distributed to steering terms of reference and distributed to steering committee.committee. Target date Feb 2008. Target date Feb 2008.

Example 2

Some examplesSome examples

Submitted milestoneSubmitted milestoneFirst workshop undertakenFirst workshop undertaken Target date: Feb Target date: Feb 2008.2008.

Revised milestoneRevised milestoneFirst workshop First workshop on organic farming techniqueson organic farming techniques undertaken. undertaken. (At least 20 participants in (At least 20 participants in attendance)attendance) Target date Feb 2008 Target date Feb 2008

Example 3

Final reportingFinal reporting

““Pulls everything together”Pulls everything together”

Record key learnings from the projectRecord key learnings from the project

Achievements by milestonesAchievements by milestones

Where to from here?Where to from here?