The Australian government is providing $3.6 million in grants to support the Australian sheep industry to develop new trade opportunities, particularly in Western Australia, and respond to growing global demand for sheep meat.
Twelve projects funded under the $27 million Enhancing Market Demand program will focus on diversifying exports of Australian agricultural and food products, with an emphasis on markets in the Middle East and North Africa.
The projects will support increased demand and sales of sheep meat in domestic and international markets as the phase out of live sheep exports by sea progresses, helping farmers benefit from the trade of high quality and ethically produced food and fibre.
Recipients include industry bodies such as the Australian Meat Industry Council and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd, agricultural consultants, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA, and research organisations including Charles Sturt University, University of Technology Sydney and Griffith University.
These organisations will work with sheep producers and the broader agriculture, food and fibre sectors to develop market opportunities and strengthen business to business relationships across supply chains.
The live sheep export by sea industry was worth $411 million in 2002 to 2003 and declined to $50 million in 2024 to 2025. Over the same period, sheep meat exports grew to $5.7 billion in 2024 to 2025.
The funding forms part of the Australian government’s almost $140 million transition assistance package to support the sheep industry through the phase out of live sheep exports by sea.
“Our sheep industry is a proud and important part of our agricultural sector, which is why we continue to support them to diversify their trade and manage change as we transition away from live sheep exports by sea,” said minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Julie Collins.
“We want WA sheep farmers and those associated with the industry to benefit from new markets and the growing sheepmeat export opportunities before us, which is exactly what this funding supports.
“These grants will benefit the Australian sheep, agriculture, food and fibre industries by helping to diversify markets for sheep and broader agri food products to the Middle East and North Africa region.”