Fund provides grants for innovative and sustainable projects
Coles has reminded Australian growers and suppliers that applications for the latest round of the Coles Nurture Fund have opened, with the deadline for submissions set for 13 February at 5pm AEDT.
The Coles Nurture Fund provides grants of up to $500,000 to support projects that drive innovation, sustainability and growth. A total of 13 rounds have been held since 2015, with more than $40mn in financial support to 119 businesses from across the country.
In the past, grants have helped chilli growers introduce new cardboard punnets and date growers build a solar-powered date processing facility. In 2024, Western Australia-based avocado farm, Prada Farms, used its grant to transition to a fully electric harvesting system powered by renewable energy.
Co-owner and second-generation avocado farmer, Rod Duncan, said he was passionate about making the process more efficient and environmentally friendly.
“Our vision was to have a net‑zero‑emissions harvesting process, and the Coles Nurture Fund grant was helping us move towards that vision,” he said.
“Prada Farms was incredibly proud to install an off‑grid solar system to charge electric farming vehicles, electric cherry pickers and a lithium‑battery‑powered forklift, to help harvest our beautiful avocados.”
To be eligible, businesses must demonstrate their need for funding in a project that drives innovation and provides outstanding sustainability benefits.
Businesses that generate less than $25mn in annual revenue and employ 50 or fewer full-time employees are encouraged to apply via the Coles Nurture Fund website.
