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Research. Innovation. Technology.

Highlights from Australian agrifood innovation.

Leading Australian venture capitalist, Matthew Pryor of Tenacious Ventures

Harnessing collaboration to deliver impact on-farm for Australia’s cotton industry

Leading Australian venture capitalist Matthew Pryor of Tenacious Ventures shares his insights and experience with growers and advisors at the Australian Cotton Conference this week. He believes the industry’s climate-adaptive technologies can attract global collaboration and multi-million-dollar investment. And now is the time for cotton growers to engage with consumers in the digital realm like never before – to drive opportunity and ensure rightful representation.

David Soo, inspecting and separating the vanilla vines in a vanilla dome
Investment opportunity

Innovative vanilla dome ready for investors to scale Australian production

An Australian IT entrepreneur has created a turnkey greenhouse solution that makes commercial vanilla production a reality outside of the tropics. Now, Australian Vanilla Plantations is seeking investors to scale production of its innovative proprietary geodesic Vanilla Dome, and grow Australia’s share of the lucrative vanilla market. Expressions of Interest close Friday, 30 September 2022.

Jane Bunn, Founder of Jane's Weather at Velisha Farms, Werribee Victoria in a crop
Investment opportunity

New weather app to add four dimensions to forecasting

Well-known TV weather presenter and meteorologist Jane Bunn found most apps use only one weather model for forecasting, meaning if that model was “having a bad day” so could you or your business. Jane’s Weather places four models in one app to counter this problem, and with the help of AgriFutures growAG. is now seeking up to $750,000 equity investment from angel, corporate and institutional investors.

Whole Green Foods Co-Founder Nick Stamatiou with machinery
Investment opportunity

Western Australian food waste startup seeks investment for $2m bridging round

Specialising in nutrient extraction technology to convert food waste into useable ingredients, has paid off for Whole Green Foods. The Western Australian startup is now raising a $2 million bridging round and seeking investment partners with interest in food tech, nutrition, waste reduction, including farmers with access to horticulture waste streams. Expressions of Interest close 31 August 2022.

Farms of the Future participant, Optiweigh in-paddock walk-over weighing solution.
Opportunity

Suppliers wanted to drive agtech adoption on NSW farms

The NSW Department of Primary Industries is seeking suppliers for its Farms of the Future Agtech Catalogue, which will connect providers of IoT devices and connectivity solutions with farmers looking to adopt new digital solutions. Expressions of Interest close Friday, 12 August 2022.

  • Led by
    NSW Department of Primary Industries
DataFarming Co-founder Tim Neale in cotton crop
Investment opportunity

Agritech leader, DataFarming launches Series A $5m cap raise

Big data has been spoken about as the next big thing in precision agriculture for years, but uptake has often been limited. DataFarming’s Tim Neale believes enough people and investment are now coming to the sector to turn that around. And with the launch of DataFarming’s Series A $5million capital raise, the future is looking bright. 

D phenotyping of weeds treated with herbicidal molecules in a research lab in Frankfurt. In the background: Dirk Schmutzler, Lab Leader Weed Control High Throughput Biology
Podcast

Finding and nurturing ‘cool innovation’ with Bayer's Phil Taylor

As the largest agricultural research and development organisation in the world, Bayer Crop Science is at the forefront of innovation. Phil Taylor, the Director of Open Innovation and Outreach for Bayer Crop Science delves into their approach to unlocking ‘cool innovation’ and how growAG. is helping to harness these novel solutions that will benefit growers around the world, including Australia.

Gloved hand collects water in in tube
Opportunity

Water quality testing tech to deliver fast, cost-effective solution for pork industry

A new on-site rapid water testing device designed to facilitate real-time decision making for better health and nutrition outcomes across Australian pig farms is ready for commercialisation. The Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd, Hone and Ridley are seeking partners testing high volumes of water samples, to support the commercialisation of the product, now listed as an opportunity on growAG..

  • Led by
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd (APRIL)
Aphid on a stem of a plant in a paddock
Opportunity

CRDC seeks partners to commercialise novel bio-pesticide with global potential

Blue sky thinking by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and the University of Western Sydney has uncovered a promising new plant-based compound for combatting common insect pests in cotton, horticulture and broadacre crops. A rare opportunity now exists for a commercial partner to further develop the early-stage biological pesticide with global market potential. Expressions of Interest close Sunday, 31 July 2022. 

  • Led by
    Cotton Research and Development Corporation
Owen Williams, AgTech and Logistics Hub Manager
Innovation challenge

AgTech and Logistics Hub’s industry-led approach accelerates innovation

Bridging the gap between industry challenges and problem solvers, the AgTech and Logistics Hub is accelerating Australian agrifood innovation – supporting innovators to fast-track solutions to some of the sector’s biggest challenges. Its Open Innovation Challenge 2 is now open for innovators with solutions to reduce inorganic waste and plastics used in horticulture, and closes on 1 July, 2022. 

  • Led by
    AgTech and Logistics Hub
Shaun Eislers, Founder of BuggyBix with his pet dog
Case study

BuggyBix insect-based pet food range, on track to proving a commercial success

Feeding the growing population is one of the most pressing issues being addressed by global agrifood innovation – but it’s not only human nourishment that’s being investigated. Sydney entrepreneur Shaun Eislers has developed a pet food range using insects as the primary protein source, and is now working with AgriFutures growAG. to connect with investors, wholesalers and distributors.