What grant assessors look for in winning applications

Edward Day: Competition for government grant funding in agribusiness is fierce. Standing out from the crowd is essential. 

Hi, I’m Edward Day from RSM and here are my three top tips before you hit submit on your funding application.

• It’s less about you and more about them. Highlight how your project delivers against the government’s objectives, whether that’s innovation, job creation or sustainability. Assessors fund alignment, not just ambition.
• Prove your wider impact. Use real data, industry insights and measurable outcomes. Show how your project benefits the broader agribusiness community, not just your business.
• Be credible. Realistic budgets, clear milestones, robust planning documentation, and a capable team inspire confidence. Grant funding assessors look for projects that can deliver. 
  Nail these three and you’ll shift your agribusiness grant from grant hopeful to grant ready. 

If your business is innovating in agriculture, you might qualify for the R&D tax incentive.

Hi, my name is Simon Harcombe from RSM, and here are my three top tips to get the most from your agribusiness R&D. 

• The first tip is know what counts as R&D. You need technical unknowns, experimentation and a systematic approach.
• The second tip, keep detailed records. You need to consider documents of all aspects of the scientific method. The technical unknowns, the experiments, results, conclusions, and new knowledge generated.
• The last tip is claim strategically. Link your R&D spend to eligible R&D activities. Common expenditure types include wages, contractors, and other costs such as travel that are incurred on the activities undertaken. 

Raising capital is often necessary to fund investment and maximise growth opportunities in your agribusiness. 

Hi, I’m Justin Audcent. Here are my three top tips to attract the right funding partner.

• Firstly, be clear on the purpose of the amount of funding required. How will the funds be spent? And hjow will the investment benefit the operations, sustainability and performance of your business?
• Secondly, show financial confidence. Know your numbers inside out. Revenue, margins, and cash flow and how they’ll be impacted by your planned investment.
• And thirdly, build trust early. Investors back people, not just ideas. So spend time building a relationship with potential lenders and investors. Make sure you communicate clearly and be transparent about your project and what’s important to you. 

Master those three and you’ll be well on your way to investor readiness and finding a funding partner that’s a match on both values and outcomes.