Groundbreakers Program

Malachai Clements is drawing on his agricultural roots and Indigenous heritage to tackle the limited access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables in his hometown of Weipa, Cape York Peninsula, a challenge that is having adverse community health outcomes. Through permaculture and community gardens, Malachai is working to provide free, nutritious food to improve wellbeing in his community. Malachai has a vision to create nutrition education programs for school children, roll out broader permaculture initiatives and advocate for infrastructure improvements to facilitate better overland transport for essential groceries. Alongside his community work, He is also studying to become a chiropractor with a commitment to enhancing health and wellbeing across the Cape York region.

Alisa Mihaila an aquaculture research scientist with a PhD in Biological Sciences and a foundation in Marine Biology and Ecology is an emerging leader in sustainable seaweed cultivation. Alisa is pioneering sustainable seaweed cultivation methods, recognising seaweed’s immense potential to address climate change, nutrient pollution, and food security while boosting rural economies. Her work aims to advance Australia’s seaweed farming industry through cutting-edge research and knowledge sharing, helping coastal communities cultivate a sustainable and eco-friendly income source that supports both livelihoods and the environment.

Alex Mantonari is the founder of AGRA Farming Technologies in Perth, pioneering indoor Plant Factories that sustainably produce crops at the same price as traditional farming. Motivated by a mission to address climate change and agricultural challenges, Alex's indoor farms ensure a stable, year-round crop supply, unaffected by climate or weather conditions. His innovative approach not only enhances shelf-life by 40% but also provides better working conditions for farmers and higher-quality produce, making sustainable farming accessible and affordable.

Thomas Norman is piloting the application of green anhydrous ammonia fertiliser for broadacre cropping. In partnership with FarmLink Research, Thomas’s project Clean Green Ag is conducting field trials to demonstrate the practical applications of the carbon neutral fertiliser, which has the potential to reduce scope 3 carbon emissions by up to 15 per cent, a critical step toward meeting Australia’s 2030 carbon targets. Thomas is also an active member of his local Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade, contributes to the Riverina Ag Network and participates in the Rural Management Strategies group, supporting young people in leadership roles on family farms.

Indiana Rhind an agricultural engineer from the Central Coast of New South Wales, is the Co-Founder of Farmwall, a startup developing innovative, aquaponic indoor farms that enable businesses to grow plants in corporate spaces. Passionate about reconnecting people with agriculture and promoting circular-economy principles, Indiana also leads STEM-based educational programs for schools, providing students with hands-on experiences designed to spark interest in agriculture and inspire future careers in the sector.