Meet the Groundbreaker bringing sustainable farms to your desk
Indiana Rhind first unlocked her love for agriculture in the cattle arena with her school’s show team. The agricultural engineer from the Central Coast of New South Wales is the Co-Founder of Farmwall, an urban farming startup delivering corporate engagement programs with sustainability and wellbeing outcomes. She was also a 2018 AgriFutures Horizon Scholar – and now a 2025 evokeAG. Groundbreaker. Indiana shares why she’s dedicated to helping others discover the abundant opportunities in agriculture.
Indiana Rhind, evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 Groundbreaker.
Tell us about your vision for the future of Australia’s agricultural industry?
My project is focused on reconnecting people back to their food and fibre, with a focus on encouraging young people to join the agricultural industry.
I am primarily achieving this goal through my role as Co-Founder and CTO/COO at Farmwall. Farmwall delivers corporate engagement programs with sustainability and wellbeing outcomes, centred around aquaponic indoor farms – our Farmwall units.
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We provide corporates with a service they are already seeking (engagement programs), with the added benefit of achieving our social purpose through fostering exposure and interest in agriculture and circular-economy principles in a personal and engaging way.
This aids in reconnecting the public to their food and fibre, whilst also promoting the adoption of circular economy and sustainable practices – building positive connections between the concept of agriculture and sustainability.
In addition, Farmwall delivers educational program for schools in the form of incursions and STEM focused term-long programs.
This provides students, that otherwise wouldn’t have the chance, to develop a personal connection to and understanding of agriculture.
It also aids in linking agriculture to STEM based careers, opening students’ eyes to the opportunities within industry.
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As a registered social enterprise, Farmwall dedicates a portion of profits to further the impact of our social purpose, offering discounted and/or fee-free school and community programs that educate and connect agriculture and sustainability.
We create an ecosystem of education between corporates and schools with the purpose of reconnection back to the agricultural industry and sustainability.
Share your background and what drives your passion for agriculture?
I was inspired to pursue this purpose as a result of my own journey.
Going from a city kid with no farming background, to the lone agricultural engineering graduate in Australia in 2022 is a very stark contrast and one that needs to be addressed.
Participating in the AgriFutures Horizon program also contributed to my passion, shining awareness to the scope of the challenge facing the industry.
What issue or gap does your research tackle?
The problem/gap I aim to address is the general disconnection from our food and fibre, and the skilled labour shortage in the agricultural industry.
What was it that appealed to you about the 2025 evokeAG. Groundbreaker program and what do you hope to get out of it?
I hope the Groundbreakers program will bring light to what we’re trying to achieve at Farmwall, and encourage more people to support us in our journey- whether it be following us on social media, participating in our community events, purchasing our programs, or investing.
Personally, I am excited to grow in my presentation and leadership skills and meet like-minded individuals that are also achieving great, purpose-driven projects!
What’s the most important advice you’d give to emerging innovators in agtech?
Be personally passionate about your innovation or purpose. Innovation and change is often a hard, long road with lots of unexpected turns. Caring deeply about what you’re doing changes that from a hard journey, to one of interest and many learning curves.
What is the evokeAG. Groundbreaker Program?
Formerly known as the evokeAG. Future Young Leaders program, the evokeAG. Groundbreakers program was renamed in 2024 to better reflect the innovative and impactful leadership of its participants.
The 2025 program is proudly sponsored by Coles and will empower five emerging leaders in agrifood and related industries, guiding them to present their innovations at the evokeAG. 2025 event in Brisbane on 18-19 February. Participants receive mentoring and a post-event bursary, supporting their goals to enhance rural communities and advance Australian agriculture. Participants span Australia and New Zealand and are aged between 18-30.
Tickets are now on sale for evokeAG. 2025 to be held on 18-19 February 2025 in Brisbane, Queensland. Following a sell-out event in 2024 we are encouraging delegates to secure their tickets, flights and accommodation early.
We look forward to seeing you in Brisbane for evokeAG. 2025. In the meantime, catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from here.