Fertiliser manufacturer Converte will soon be looking to expand their Griffith factory thanks to a federal government grant.
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The Commonwealth Government will contribute $97,700 from their manufacturing modernisation fund to commercialise a new product.
Converte's managing director John Ridley said Converte would be developing a slow-release fertiliser pellet which be recharged by farmers.
Mr Ridley said the business's specialty was liquid fertiliser and developing the new product wouldn't just help horticulturalists in the MIA, but possibly across Australia and beyond.
So far the pellets have made in small batches and Mr Ridley said the funding would mean more machines at the factory and more staff, as well as scaling up production.
"When you've got grant money it's not just a possibility on a spreadsheet, it's a real thing," Mr Ridley said.
"We can do it a lot quicker now."
The project is estimated to cost $195,400.
At the moment there are four people at Converte's Griffith factory, as well as representatives based around NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.
Mr Ridley expected extra staff would be needed as the development and production of the slow-release fertiliser pellets grew.
When you've got grant money it's not just a possibility on a spreadsheet, it's a real thing.
- Converte managing director John Ridley
Farmers usually have to contend with leaching, which is the loss of nutrients from the soil, but Mr Ridley said the slow-release pellets help keep nutrients and moisture where it belonged.
"The slow release pellet sit in the soil for 18 months," he said.
Recharging the pellet would be done by spraying liquid fertiliser.
"Slow release pellets are hard to design and hard to package consistently," Mr Ridley said.
"Once you can do that it opens the door to other products."
He said the Riverina was perfect for testing and developing a slow release fertiliser.
"This allows you to hold nutrients in the soil. It's ideal for grape growers and citrus growers," Mr Ridley said.
"The government is investing in innovating agricultural technologies that are important in maintaining nutrients in the soil and in-ground moisture," he said.
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He said winning the grant was a 'big tick of approval' in what Converte was working on, which also had the potential to be exported.
"There is a switch to more Australian made and Australian grown products and that can only help us," he said.
"In the long term, Australia has to have more advanced manufacturing."
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
