Meet the three Australian startups on the road to Earthshot glory

The Earthshot Prize aims to ignite the collective hope, imagination, and conviction needed to regenerate our planet by 2030. And for the first time, they enlisted AgriFutures Australia to help.

With a deep connection and understanding of the agrifood tech and innovation ecosystem, AgriFutures Australia was selected as an official nominator of the prize, and AgriFutures grow^AG. put the call out to organisations and individuals that share a commitment to scaling a solution.

AgriFutures grow^AG.’s application process was highly competitive, attracting submissions from grassroots not-for-profits and tech startups to global data monitoring systems and government institutions, to name a few.  

Ultimately, AgriFutures selected three Australian startups to be nominated for the Prize, which best demonstrated their application to the Earthshots and cross-cutting enablers: Rainstick, PlasmaLeap Technologies, and Blue Carbon.

Harriet Mellish, AgriFutures’ General Manager of Global Innovation Networks, congratulated the trio on their successful applications.

“These three solutions epitomise what Earthshot is about,” Harriet said.

“They inspire optimism and action. Each has the ability to scale globally and provide environmental, social and economical benefit.”

Learn more about the three successful applicants: 

Rainstick presents an innovative solution to the global agricultural challenge by combining ancient Indigenous wisdom with cutting edge technology.

Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker Darryl Lyons said being nominated for The Earthshot Prize is a ‘huge milestone’ for Rainstick.

“It’s a real testament to the innovation and hard work from our team, and it means the world to see our solution recognised on this level,” he said.

“This nomination motivates us even more to keep pushing for sustainable, practical outcomes that support farmers, our land, and future generations inspired by First Nations knowledge.”

Rainstick uses electricity to stimulate seeds to grow bigger and faster, leading to bigger crop yields. Its story begins 30,000 years ago with the Maiawali First Nations people who would use a ‘chugerra’ (rainstick) to influence and work with storm systems for food cultivation.

Rainstick expands on this practice with a proprietary Variable Electric Field technology (VEFt) that uses electricity to mimic the effects of lightning to trigger biological changes in plants, resulting in accelerated growth and increased yield.

Nitrogen fertiliser feeds the global population – but at a high CO2 cost. And it’s one PlasmaLeap Technologies is on a mission to address in its Earthshot story.

“The Earthshot awards are uniquely aligned to our vision of building accessible, sustainable technology for fuel and chemical production globally, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the journey,” CEO Frere Byrne said.

“The team at PlasmaLeap is beyond excited to be one of the Australian nominees for the Earthshot prize. The work done by AgriFutures Australia and the AgriFutures grow^AG. team consistently ensures Australian companies are at the forefront of global agtech innovation.”

To date, technology advances have been insufficient to enable viable green Nitrogenous Fertilisers with the sector struggling to “green” the fossil fuel driven Haber-Bosch process. PLT is leading the race to develop the next generation, electrically driven, solution for sustainable and locally produced nitrogen fertiliser.

Its innovation generates more cost-effective Nitrogen fertiliser than other sources and provides stability from market fluctuations coupled with an 84% reduction in CO2 emissions over the incumbent process.

Blue Carbon is riding the power of waves to heal the earth’s oceans and atmosphere.

It’s engineered a nature based, technology solution which uses wave and solar energy to replicate the natural vertical circulation patterns of the ocean, upwelling clean, cool and nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface.

Ana Novak, CEO, Blue Carbon said the team is deeply honoured to be nominated for The Earthshot Prize.

“Being selected from such a large and talented field of applicants is a meaningful acknowledgment of our efforts and approach, but more importantly, it reflects a shared belief in the vision we are working towards,” she said.

“On what has been a challenging journey to create a sustainable solution that supports the planet in the long term while benefiting ocean communities and industries today, this recognition from an organisation as esteemed as AgriFutures Australia is an encouraging reminder that we are not alone in this mission."

Blue Carbon’s oPod™ is a multi-use technology which has potential to be applied to a broad range of global, ocean-based industries and environmental challenges to protect, restore and rejuvenate ocean ecosystems from the impacts of climate change and human activity, and to assist with atmospheric carbon capture and sequestration and decarbonisation of the aquaculture industry.

By artificially upwelling clean, cool and nutrient-rich water to the surface, oPods™ reduce ocean stratification, enhance phytoplankton development and increase nutrient availability, essential for replenishing fish-stocks, and ecosystem restoration.

AgriFutures’ grow^AG. team will work with Rainstick, PlasmaLeap Technologies and Blue Carbon as they’re invited to complete the second part of the assessment process with The Earthshot Prize team.

It’s a collaborative process between AgriFutures and the nominee, aimed at enhancing each nominee’s chance of success.

“Each of these three can use information from the grow^AG. form for the Earthshot part of their application,” Harriet said.

“We’ll also provide Rainstick, PlasmaLeap Technologies and Blue Carbon with feedback from our assessment panel and one-on-one support to complete their final application with The Earthshot Prize.”

While not every nominee will make it through the nomination process, Harriet explained that every nominee can expect to receive tailored support from AgriFutures.

“The aspiration is that, for all of those that apply, we’ll find a way to support them via grow^AG. – amplifying their solution via the platform in the hope of making connections with investors and partners.”

The £1 million Earthshot Prize 2025 will be awarded to one winner in each of the five Earthshot categories:

·       Protect and Restore Nature

·       Clean our Air

·       Revive our Oceans

·       Build a Waste-Free World, and

·       Fix our Climate.

A pool of 15 finalists (three from each category) will receive specialist coaching and support to unlock new investment, networking, and collaboration opportunities through the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme.

It includes a weeklong in-person retreat that enables finalists to connect and share ideas for growth, the Fellowship gives finalists unprecedented access to Earthshot’s Global Alliance of mission-aligned business, NGOs and philanthropists, whose tailored support helps innovators to take their One Giant Leap to transformational impact.