6 results for input costs

Sugar Research Australia has worked with local industry in the Rocky Point region to develop sustainable nutrient management guidelines for that area, helping improve profitability and sustainability.

Father and son team Larry and Ben Spann grow sugarcane on about 200 hectares of lease country in the Rocky Point region near Norwell in southeast Queensland.

They see a solid future for the industry to the point where they are developing more country for planting. However, at the same time, they are also acutely aware that the low sugar price means that they must be efficient with their inputs and reduce costs. 

CSIRO’s latest invention, TranspiratiONal, a spray-on polymer membrane will help farmers increase crop yield and save water, but with fewer inputs and less environmental impact.

Farmers across the world have used plastic mulch films to intensify crop production since the 1960s. Applying a thin plastic film to rows of crops has proven short-term benefits, boosting yields by moderating soil temperature, maintaining soil moisture and reducing weed competition. TranspiratiONal, a Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM) technology is CSIRO’s response to this global challenge.

Australia’s Young Farmer of the Year says robots can play a key role in tackling worker shortages and labour costs for fruit growers, and is helping a Victorian startup develop an autonomous apple-picking machine to do just that.

Gaia Project Australia’s Rejig-Grow System is helping leafy green farmers maximise space and efficiency with an innovative, modular system that expands with natural growth cycles – halving operational costs and doubling yield. With a successful prototype for NASA and global expansion plans GPA is now raising its A$2 million seed round.

The grain industry is a vital part of Australia’s economy, supplying 25% of the country’s agricultural gross value of production.

Nigel Hart, managing director of Australia’s Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), says that given its important role in the food system — both at home and abroad — it’s critical that Australia’s grain industry fosters innovation through all available partners, including agtech startups. Tools that strengthen soils and yields, optimize input use, boost farm productivity and deliver, high-value, cleaner ingredients will ultimately help growers and food companies stay profitable in the face of climate change and shifting consumer preferences.

Food waste costs the Australian economy $36.6 billion every year. And it occurs at every step along the supply chain – from the farmgate to processing, packing, distribution, storage, retail, and consumers. If we’re to meet the nation’s goal of halving food waste by 2030, we all need to do better. The newest call for research partnerships from Fight Food Waste CRC aims to help us do just that.