NSW Government
NSW Climate and Energy Action

High impact partnerships

Grants to support carbon abatement in the primary industries and land sector. Round 2 now open for applications.

A large group of farmers standing together overlooking a paddock of cows
 
Key information

  • Status: Open
  • Grant amount: Up to $2,000,000
  • Applications opened: 30 September 2025
  • Applications close: 1 December 2025, 5 pm AEDT

Download the guidelines (PDF, 2.66 MB)

Round 2 of the High Impact Partnership grants now open

Carbon abatement is an enormous opportunity for those farming and managing land in NSW.  

The High Impact Partnership grants are about backing leaders in the primary industries and land sector who share our commitment to act on climate change. We are offering $7.5 million in Round 2 of the High Impact Partnership grants to assist eligible land managers and organisations to deliver carbon abatement projects at scale.  

Successful applicants will have a project ready to implement and will receive between $500,000 and $2 million. This investment must be matched by applicants.  

These projects will drive abatement at scale, deliver co-benefits, and use innovative delivery to create value for land managers.

What’s included in the grant funding

This grant will cover up to 50% of eligible project costs up to $2 million, helping you to:  

  • generate carbon credits to provide an additional income stream  
  • access the multiple benefits of improved carbon management on your land or in your business
  • become a leader in sustainable farming and land management.

Applicants must contribute at least 50% of eligible costs of the project and ensure that at least 30% of project expenditure in any given financial year is through co-contributions. Detailed eligible costs are available in section 2.5.2 of the guidelines.

Successful applicants will need to share their learnings and help build capacity within the sector. This will help others understand the benefits, risks and costs of getting into the carbon market. 

Examples of eligible projects

Eligible projects could be on one or multiple sites.

A suitable project might be:

  • boosting soil carbon to improve soil health and agricultural productivity
  • managing animal waste to reduce emissions through installing animal waste recycling facilities  
  • establishing plantation forest to improve land productivity and sustainability
  • reforesting native species to increase biodiversity co-benefits
  • restoring tidal flow to wetlands for environmental and productivity gains.

Grant funded activities must be registered as carbon projects under the national Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme administered by the Clean Energy Regulator. 

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria. Find detailed criteria in section 3 of the guidelines.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include:

  • farmers or agribusinesses
  • Aboriginal landholders/organisations including Traditional Owner groups, land councils, or Registered Native Title Body Corporates
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • government entities
  • community natural resource management/conservation organisations
  • peak bodies or industry organisations
  • producer associations
  • research institutes
  • co-operative/mutual organisations. 

Carbon service providers operating for profit are not eligible to be applicants. However, they may work with successful applicants to assist with their project or contribute as a partner. 

What you can apply for

The scope of the High Impact Partnership Round 2 grants supports innovative projects delivering abatement at scale, that also create co-benefits.  

The grants will be offered for carbon projects using one or more of the following Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme methods:

What you can’t apply for

Detailed funding exclusions can be found in section 2.5.3 of the guidelines.

How to apply

Applications for the grants are now open and will close on 1 December 2025 at 5 pm AEDT.  

Apply now

1. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements

The application includes two eligibility criteria:  

  • Eligibility criterion 1: Demonstrate that the applicant meets all grant eligibility requirements.  
  • Eligibility criterion 2: Demonstrate that the project meets all grant eligibility requirements.  

Review section 3 of the guidelines to make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. 

2. Review the grant materials to guide your application

If you are successful in your application for a High Impact Partnership grant, we will enter into a funding deed with you. The time provided for departures will be limited so it is recommended that you review the draft funding deed provided before the application closing date. 

Note: This copy of the funding deed is a draft only and subject to vary from when applications open until the funding deed will be signed. 

3. Fill out the application form in the Grants Management System and submit with all required documentation

Complete and submit your application through the Grant Management System online application form prior to the grant closing date.   

Applications must include: 

After you complete and submit your application, you will receive an email to confirm your application has been received.   

Note: If you do not receive an email, please email us at [email protected]  
 

4. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified.

The full review process may take up to 4 weeks. 

Eligibility assessment

Your application will first be reviewed against the eligibility criteria. If your application is deemed ineligible during the eligibility review, you will receive an email.

Projects that meet all eligibility requirements will proceed to merit assessment.  

Merit assessment 

An assessment panel will review eligible applications against the merit assessment criteria and recommend successful applicants for approval of a grant.   

During either the eligibility or merit assessments, we may ask you for more information.  

Receive an outcome 

If your application is successful, we will send you a written offer and the High Impact Partnership funding deed.

If your application is not successful, you will receive an email. Feedback on your application will be available on request.  

5. If you are successful, execute the funding deed and commence your project

If your application is successful, we will execute the funding deed with you.

Following the signing of your High Impact Partnership funding deed, your project can commence.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, or to discuss your project or application, please email us at [email protected]. 

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Successful High Impact Partnership projects from Round 1

In 2023, the NSW Government awarded $6.8 million to 6 project partners in our State’s primary industries and land sector, to deliver carbon abatement. They are:

  • 24 Degree Forest
  • Wilmot Cattle Company
  • Regen Farmers Mutual
  • Greening Australia
  • World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
  • NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Read more about previously funded projects.

The successful projects from Round 1 have registered their carbon projects using the following Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme methods:

  • Reforestation by environmental or mallee plantings FullCAM
  • Estimation of soil organic carbon sequestration using measurement and models