Stephanie Palmer-Derrien

AusAgritech President, Rob Hulme has an impressive agritech resume, spanning the full spectrum of the sector in Australia and overseas. If Australia is to reach $100 billion in annual economic output by 2030, he says there are some changes we’re going to have to make.

We know the agricultural community is an innovative bunch. So it should come as no surprise that R&D organisations in the sector are turning to new investment models; partnering with venture capital (VC) firms to bring startups to market as quickly as possible.

If you’re travelling to The River City for evoke^AG. 2025, you might as well make the most of your trip. From sideline events to R&R, here’s how.

With an overarching theme of ‘common ground’, evokeAG 2025 invites attendees to put their heads together to tackle the biggest challenges facing industry, consumers and the planet.

Where once investment in plant-based meat innovation seemed unstoppable, it seemed the glaze had started to wear off. However, the Food Frontier 2023 State of the Industry report into the Australian industry paints a picture of evolution, growth and — ultimately — a strong future.
The Australian sector is maturing, beyond the buzzwords and bold promises, settling into the rhythm of a functioning industry. But change is afoot.

In a challenging market for venture capital, agrifood tech investors are not only looking for innovations that could change the world, they’re looking for the founders who can make change happen. That means resilience, creativity, and something that looks a bit like courage.
AgFunder Founding Partner Michael Dean and Olympia Yarger, Founder and CEO of maggot-powered food waste management startup, Goterra explore the funding challenges in this market. For both, the key to success comes from a passion to solve the problem – and a sheer inability to give up.