Perth agritech startup, SWAN Systems’ innovative approach to water management has received global recognition as Rabobank’s FoodBytes! Pitch 2020 agtech winner. The multi-faceted solution provides a ‘data playbook’ for users across the globe to save precious resources year-on-year and achieve better yields at lower costs. We caught up with SWAN Systems’ Rod Campbell to learn more about the tech, what the award means for business going forward and what opportunities exist for expansion in the US....
Mar 02, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Wilmot Cattle Co’s pioneering carbon credit deal with Microsoft has caught the attention of farmers, investors, corporates and everyone in between – proving that carbon farming can in fact be profitable, when measured. Stuart Austin shares his advice for others seeking to monetise their natural capital and reduce on-farm risk. Read his story here ....
Feb 24, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Back in 1975, intangible assets accounted for 17% of corporate value, today they account for 90%. To paint a rich picture of the largely unknown world of intangible assets, we dive deep into conversation with EverEdge Assets Managing Director, Michael Masterson, Tim Hyde, CEO and Founding Director of Swan Systems and Massimo Garbuio, Associate Professor of Sydney University’s Business School to explore the risks, rewards and real-life viewpoints. We find out what intangible assets really are, ho...
Feb 03, 2021•18 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Dynamic duo: Zetifi and AuctionsPlus, join forces to change the way livestock auctions are run, that’s fetching higher prices in the saleyards and greater productivity in the paddock. We catch up with Angus Street, CEO of AuctionsPlus , Australia’s go-to online auction platform for agricultural and livestock sales, and Dan Winson, Founder & CEO of Zetifi , a wireless networking startup, based in Wagga Wagga, where they design and manufacture long range wireless repeaters. Together, they're o...
Jan 21, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 22
We caught up with Ben Wynn, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Wynergy , a Tamworth-based solar energy startup, on a mission to transform Australia's solar power industry with its unique agrivoltaic design. With the innovative design, farmers will be able to run livestock and plant pastures in and around their solar panels. It's a partnership between solar companies and farmers that helps to solve the land use conflict by allowing both industries to co-exist....
Dec 16, 2020•35 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Fifth-generation livestock farmer and AgriWebb co-founder, Justin Webb shares his lessons on launching an Australian startup in the UK, how to access capital in complex economies and why knowing your market is everything. Justin reflects on the learnings and the wealth of knowledge trade agencies can provide to ensure a smooth transition, with Austrade’s Senior Advisor and agtech lead, Arianna Sippel and the UK's Department for International Trade’s Director for Investment for Australia and New ...
Nov 20, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Taking the first step to going global can be intimidating for any agritech business but there’s plenty of support to ensure a ‘soft landing’ – if you do your homework. So where do Australian startups, SMEs and scaleups look first to ensure a smooth passage into international waters? Well, the best place to start is right here at home, through trade agencies that offer tangible support and market research – and it’s free. Whether businesses are seeking financial support, tracking down contacts or...
Nov 11, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 19
On the edge of the desert in South Australia’s Port Augusta, vegetables grow abundantly, in a landscape once deemed, near impossible for food production. Now 15,000 tonnes of truss tomatoes thrive all year round, bringing life to the desert, using nothing but sunlight and seawater, known as concentrated solar power technology. This ‘Utopian’ concept is led by Sundrop Farms , where people, planet and profit all come together in a holistic model, founded with food security and sustainability front...
Nov 09, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 18
A kaleidoscope of space-based tech designed to enhance precision agriculture and foster efficient food production is ready for take-off so how do we drive adoption? AgriFutures Australia and the Australian National University have been working on a groundbreaking study to uncover answers to this very question – and the research shows space-based technologies could be worth $750 million to Australian agriculture by 2025. We caught up with the key industry players helping drive this force – where ...
Oct 14, 2020•33 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Impact investing is rapidly growing as investors turn to companies that can provide a positive social and environmental impact as well as a financial return. In Australia, it's a whopping $20 billion market. But, what does impact investing really mean for the future of food, how is it different from other forms of investment and where should startups channel their energy to cash in on this capital? We teamed up with industry heavyweights to find these answers; Michael Dean - Founder of AgFunder ...
Sep 30, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Did you know Kakadu plum has the highest Vitamin C content of any food on Earth? Yet only 10% of Kakadu plum is currently being harvested. Meet Hayley Blieden, founder of The Australian Superfood Co who is helping cultivate a growing appetite for Australian native foods with the launch of the Native Harvest Initiative, designed to support Indigenous communities, local growers and scale native produce supply. Tune in to learn more about the incredible value of Australia’s native bush foods and Ha...
Sep 15, 2020•26 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week we talk to Food Futurist Tony Hunter . Tony has had a long and extensive career in the food industry and has seen a lot of change along the way. He specialises in studying and predicting new and emerging trends, particularly agrifood tech, and how such technologies will influence current food businesses and help solve future food security challenges. Get a taste for what’s to come and why food personalisation and wellness are more important than ever....
Aug 31, 2020•39 min•Season 2Ep. 14
This week we talk to Matthew Pryor, co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia's first dedicated agrifood venture capital firm and Olympia Yarger, founder and CEO of Goterra, a biotech waste management startup. Tenacious Ventures recently announced its first co-led investment – worth $8-million – into Goterra that is set to transform the robot-managed modular insect farms, which convert waste into a valuable commodity for livestock. Olympia and Matthew share their journey and the importance of ...
Aug 16, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Replay of a panel discussion from evokeAG 2020 in Melbourne. Alternative protein products do have the potential to disrupt the food system. However, there are enormous opportunities to coexist. Hear from the people in the paddock, the lab and the fields who are approaching traditional and new proteins differently. This episode features; Ethy Levy , Bridge Hub Nick Hazell , V2 Food James Madden , Flinders and Co Jennifer Medway , Agrifutures...
Jul 06, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Today we went on the Farm to chat with sheep farmer Mark Mortimer. Mark runs a Merino Stud called Centre Plus and discussed what's happening on the farm now, what technology he's currently using and what technology he's looking forward to having into the future.
Jun 22, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Fleur catches up with Brad Jones (Bungulla Farms) at evokeAG. and talks about evolving technologies, the process of bringing agtech on farm. Ian Reilly (e-Shepherd by Agersens) explains that their new product is in the early-adoption phase and they are at a stage where they are getting a greater understanding of their customer's, the farmer's, needs. Bruce Creek (Thomas Elder Consulting) talks about what he thinks we need to consider when making agtech adoption work and his observations over the...
May 25, 2020•26 min
Replay of a panel discussion from evokeAG 2020 in Melbourne. Cutting-edge precision farming and innovative science can increase sustainability, yields and profits and allow farmers to build long term strategies to future-proof their enterprise. Discover how tech and lab based solutions can successfully impact everyday farming. This episode features; Darren Hughes, CEO of Laconik Aidan Connolly, CEO of Cainthus Dr Kelly Pearce, Research Scientist, Wheatbelt Science Professor Jennie Pryce, Princip...
May 20, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
What will a future farmer look like? What jobs will they perform? What skills will that will entail and who else will bring expertise to the management of farm activities? What skills do our farmers of the future need? As the world’s population grows so to do the pressures of farmers to produce more. Farmers of the future will need more innovation, efficiencies and smarter minds to meet the demand for food. It's envisaged this will see more skillsets and unique knowledge applied to food and agri...
May 12, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This episode we delve into the advantages of new protein markets and the rise of plant based meats. In February 2020 an AgriFutures Australia report: The Changing Landscape of Protein Production; opportunities and challenges for Australian agriculture, identified the rise of alternative proteins in food markets garnering much attention over the past 18 months. It states that forecast global demand for protein is strong and will accommodate for growth in both sectors and although alternative prot...
May 05, 2020•33 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This episode considers how Australia can grow its AgTech footprint globally. Fleur Anderson speaks with some big global venture capitalists about what they look for in a start-up company and you will hear their examples of what kind businesses are getting looked at right now. Our guests speak about how to build a start-up culture that’s attractive to global investors, they consider some improvement’s that could be made in Australia and we speak about the importance of bringing all players throug...
Apr 28, 2020•39 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This session will examine the consumer behaviours and innovations that are shaping the conversation around sustainable food now and in the future. We will examine the mindset of 21st century eaters and how their needs and values are shaping our food landscape. We will explore what the future of food sustainability might look like and how food producers will need to focus on taste and storytelling in order to grow a food system that is better for people, planet and palate. Speaker: Mike Lee, The ...
Apr 23, 2020•32 min•Season 2Ep. 5
This episode explores new ideas, solutions and possibilities on how we can make the Australian agriculture industry more sustainable. We speak some of the change makers in Australia to find out what we can learn from their experiences. We delve into the topic of bi-product development as well as addressing what part farmers might play and how to positively engage all facts of the supply chain in the sustainability conversation. These interviews were recorded by Fleur Anderson at the 2020 Evoke A...
Apr 14, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Filmmaker, director and actor Damon Gameau took to the stage at EvokeAg to share his insights and discoveries into practical climate change solutions, sharing international success stories and sending us on our own reclamation journey
Apr 07, 2020•22 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This episode explores the future of the Agrifutures Australia EvokeAg event. In 2021 the West Australian Government will be hosting EvokeAg in Perth on 16th- 17th February 2021. Guests explain the excitement of this announcement and how hosting this event in WA will grow Australia’s position in the agri-food tech scene in the Asia Pacific. Guests include; Agrifutures Australia managing director John Harvey ; Director General, WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Ralph Ad...
Mar 31, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This episode is a recording of the very well received ‘Ag-itators’ Panel discussion from Day Two of the EvokeAg Event. Our guests explore the incremental to exponential …… the ‘ag-itating’ in trends that are daring this industry to think differently so it can meet opportunities and challenges head on. The discussion is facilitated by Barrie Cassidy former host of ABC insiders …. And speaks with Bill Hurditch, director The Fifth Estate . Jack Cowin of Hungry Jacks , John Henderson partner with Ai...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Agrifutures' EvokeAG is back in Melbourne for 2020! Tune in for the Best of the sellout EvokeAG Conference
Feb 17, 2020•3 min
Panel: Getting ready for even faster, smarter farms Precision farming and using satellite imagery and drones to monitor crops……. along with farm management software tools to maximize decisions are all powering smarter farms.Uptake of these and other agtech innovations are set to expand with the imminent introduction of faster, cheaper connectivity.Panelists:Anastasia Volkova – FluroSatFlavia Tata Nardini - Fleet Space TechnologiesJonah Williams - AirBus AustraliaWill Wells - Hummingbird Technolo...
Apr 17, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 11
BONUS 03 - PANEL: Grow locally, think globally – how Australian businesses built an international brand and success Australia is recognized as a trusted producer of food. The opportunity exists for producers to leverage their food provenance, build premium brands and scale into global markets.Panelists:David Blackmore – Blackmore WagyuRob McGavin – Cobram EstateJodie Goldsworthy – Beechworth HoneyFrances Bender – Huon AquacultureFacilitated by Karen Ross from Elders
Apr 17, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
PANEL: Farmers of the Future- Robots, AI and 247 Farming Traditional agriculture methods won’t be able to meet the needs of the future. Automation is rapidly advancing with new robotic perception systems, autonomous harvesting and industrial warehouse automation changing the face of the industry. This panel discussion is about the Farmers of the Future, Robots, AI and 24/7 Farming. This panel is brought to you by Westpac and facilitated by Andrea Kosh of National Farmers Federation. Panellists: ...
Apr 16, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 9
PANEL: Agriculture 4.0 - Future of the Nation This conversation asks some big questions of agriculture. What is the future of Australia’s food and fibre industries?Leading voices from agriculture, innovation and investment will challenge and discuss the opportunities for Australian agriculture - here in our backyards and across borders.Everyone in this panel discussion was asked to speak freely and openly about the future of agrifoodtech in Australasia and what we need to do collectively to cont...
Apr 16, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 8
