New Zealand solution providers at evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 to connect with the Australian ecosystem

Over the last nine months, AgriFutures grow^AG. has been working with the New Zealand agrifood tech sector to increase collaboration and connect the Trans-Tasman ecosystems with the aim of addressing shared challenges facing our rural industries. As a part of this connection exercise, a diverse range of New Zealand agrifood organisations will be attending evoke^AG.2025, looking to build partnerships within Australia.  

30 organisations are attending from across the agrifood and technology ecosystem including Crown and independent researchers, universities, investors, accelerators, growers, startups, scaleups, corporates and consultants. 

“Australian and New Zealand share so many challenges in terms of climate adaption, access to labour, and biosecurity threats. We have a history of working together but there is an opportunity to do more,” explains David Lord, grow^AG.Senior Manager, Customer and Growth.  

 “If we collaborate in a pre-commercial space, it lowers the cost and increases the potential to truly solve some of our shared challenges. Culturally we naturally gravitate to one another and that makes it easy to do business when we have similar structures and systems”. 

Collaboration is a two-way street, while some New Zealand stakeholders will be looking to expand into the Australian market, others are looking for Australian-based researchers and innovators with solutions that could support New Zealand rural industries.    

Check out the list below to see some of the New Zealand organisations attending evoke^AG. 2025 and who they’re hoping to connect with. If you’re interested in a warm introduction with one of the groups, send a general enquiry via the grow^AG. platform.

David Lord and Customer and Growth team connecting at KCA conference in Queenstown NZ 2024.

A Lighter Touch (ALT) 

A Lighter Touch is supporting New Zealand plant-based growers to move from agrichemical reliance to an agroecological approach to crop protection by working with nature to build productive, sustainable and resilient farming systems. This seven-year program identifies tools and solutions to enable grower practice change, and demonstrates these on a commercial scale on farms, orchards and vineyards.

A Lighter Touch is interested in connecting with stakeholders who have demonstrated Integrated Pest Management or systems at a commercial scale and have been involved in extension and adoption of new practices and technologies with growers.  

AgResearch Ltd 

AgResearch's purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pastoral, agrifood and technology sectors. Their research focuses on food and bioproducts, fit-for-purpose plants and animals, resilience of food production under a changing climate, and sustainable farming systems.

AgReasearch is looking to connect with VCs/investors interested in Biological/Microbiological solutions as alternatives to chemical-based platforms for plant nutrient delivery and animal health. They are seeking partnership opportunities with industry bodies and other research providers working to develop novel agrifood and technology solutions. 

Read more: AgResearch - Organisation - growAG

AgriZeroNZ 

AgriZeroNZ is helping farmers reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions whilst maintaining profitability and productivity.  Their purpose is to undertake targeted investments and actions to accelerate the development, commercialisation, and adoption of effective and affordable solutions to significantly reduce these emissions. 

AgriZeroNZ is looking to connect with ventures and startups working on agricultural emissions reduction technologies; co-investors and funders in sustainable agriculture/tech startups; and collaborators with an interest in emissions reduction in agriculture, specifically methane and nitrous oxide.  

Read more: AgriZeroNZ - Organisation - growAG

BioStart Limited

Biostart focuses on solving productivity issues for farmers and growers by developing and manufacturing a proprietary range of easy-to-use biological products.  They believe the key to productivity lies in keeping soils, plants and animals in optimal health by harnessing beneficial microbes. After extensive trialling and application with New Zealand rural industries, Biostart is looking to expand its operation into Australian horticulture and broadacre crops by sharing their Australia trial results and products for application. To do this they would like to connect with Australian rural Research and Development Corporations, grower organisations and large corporate growers.  

CropX Limited

CropX  specialises in developing advanced sensor technology and cloud-based agricultural information systems that help farmers make precise and timely agronomic decisions. By integrating these technologies, CropX aims to improve crop yields, reduce water wastage, uncover fertiliser applications, predict disease and enhance overall farm management. CropX's solutions have expanded globally, with offices in New Zealand, the United States, the Netherlands, Israel, and Australia. CropX is looking to connect with new potential business partners, acquisitions and customers.

Read more: CropX - Organisation - growAG

Cucumber 

Cucumber is helping organisations across Australasia to unlock the power of their data for better business results. They combine deep software, biosensing, digital strategy and science expertise with 20 years of in-the-field experience to create solutions that deliver smarter decisions and real-world results, especially for those in the primary and supporting sectors. Cucumber would like to connect with industry bodies who are looking to solve issues in detection of pests and/or pathogens and detection of toxins in water and air, or research organisations with specialist skills in biosensing (plasmonics).   

Read more: Cucumber - Organisation - growAG

Farm Focus 

Farm Focus helps farmers to manage their margins – outgoings and incomings – via a financial planning service accessed anytime, anywhere. Farm Focus is a household name in New Zealand, serving $9B of farm income for decades. The company is looking to expand into the Australia market and is interested in connecting with producers who would like to see their on-farm financials in one place. They are also interested in partnering with accounting firms, banks, rural innovation funds, and software integrators to expand the reach of their platform.   

Read more: Farm Focus - Organisation - growAG

Lincoln Agritech Limited 

Lincoln Agritech is a research and development company delivering cutting-edge science and engineering technologies for primary industries and the environmental sector. They are an independent not-for-profit company and a subsidiary of Lincoln University, New Zealand, a specialist university focused on land-based sectors. Lincoln Agritech is interested in connecting with industry, investment, commercialisation and research/ technology partners to support their two opportunities listed on the grow^AG. platform.   

Map and Zap® 

Map and Zap® is leveraging advanced technologies in imaging and artificial intelligence to enable precision weed management through non-invasive, automated solutions that optimise productivity while minimising environmental impact. By integrating innovative mapping and "laser zapping" technologies, they help farmers tackle challenges such as selective weed elimination and sustainable farming practices.

Map and Zap® is raising capital to take the technology to market. They would like to connect with investors, farm robotics companies and agribusinesses who are seeking to invest and partner in technologies that support sustainable farming practices.      

Plant & Food Research 

Plant & Food Research enhances the value and productivity of horticulture, arable, seafood and food and beverage industries with science. Together with their partners, they use world-leading science to improve the way they grow, fish, harvest, prepare and share food. Every day, they have 1000 people working across Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to help deliver healthy foods from the world’s most sustainable systems.

Plant & Food Research are interested in connecting with research collaborators, or anyone needing a science solution and technology company to accelerate their growth with research.  

Rewiring Aotearoa 

Rewiring Aotearoa helps farmers move away from fossil fuel machines by replacing them with electric equivalents and powering them with a combination of solar panels, battery banks and renewable energy. They believe that electrifying farms presents a real opportunity for farms and rural communities to reduce their costs, diversify their income and play a significant role in the renewable energy system.

Rewiring Aotearoa is looking to connect with producers and potential partners/collaborators in the Australian market to help reduce emissions and accelerate global decarbonisation by electrifying farms.   

Read more: https://www.rewiring.nz/

RossAi 

RossAi leverages advanced automation and high-tech sensors to develop products that empower customers to optimise their environmental impact, reduce costs, and set new benchmarks in the agritech and PAN sectors. They are committed to creating sustainable technologies that support the environment's longevity and drive efficiency for growers.

RossAI would like to connect with industry leaders, technology providers, growers, researchers, and venture capital or innovation investors interested in scaling precision horticulture, automation, sensor systems and innovative growing systems.  

Read more: RossAi - Organisation - growAG

Sprout Agritech 

Sprout Agritech supports the development of agrifood and technology entrepreneurs by running an accelerator twice a year and investing in start-ups that are solving some of the agricultural and food value chains' toughest problems.

Sprout Agritech would like to connect with founders, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs who are working on an innovation with an application related to the agrifood value chain.  

University of Canterbury 

The University of Canterbury (UC) Research and Innovation’s Commercialisation Team (Technology Transfer Office) assists UC Researchers and students across all disciplines and faculties to assess, protect and commercialise research and intellectual property for New Zealand and global impact.

University of Canterbury would like to connect with Australian and international stakeholders working in computer vision, viticulture and horticulture automation, land based autonomous platforms, aquaculture monitoring, drone-based software and platforms, and flight guidance.

Venture Taranaki 

Venture Taranaki is creating an Applied Innovation and Biotechnology Centre to support New Zealand’s agricultural and energy sectors. Taranaki has many attributes to support a strong biotech industry – particularly in fields such as biogas (anaerobic digestion), precision fermentation and soil sciences, and regenerative agriculture.

Venture Taranaki is looking for partnerships in research, companies looking to locate/expand in New Zealand, and experts in biogas, dairy, carbon capture/emissions and future foods. 

Wharf42 

Wharf42 leverages their global networks to support the development of effective international agrifood ecosystems, enabling agribusinesses, agritech startups, researchers, governments and investors to create genuinely collaborative global communities.

Over the past few years, they have developed a strong presence in California. Wharf42 will be joined by two key US partners at evoke^AG. 2025. They are interested in connecting with stakeholders who want to engage or enter the US market, or are looking to meet with key agritech influencers from the US.  