#Agribusiness

Agribusiness psychotherapist and author of the weekly newsletter Ag Done Different, Dan Schultz shares why the mission set before innovators in agribusiness today is to force a choice, not a comparison with the present. If we are to succeed, it will be by harnessing a grievance with the status quo and turning that into a movement for change.

From Australian-first advances in granulated, organic fertiliser through to methane-inhibiting feed additives, Mort & Co is no stranger to innovation. Mort & Co Sustainability Manager, Brad Robinson shares how the Queensland-based company has gone from a $1.7 million annual turnover in 1998 to in excess of $400 million in recent years – all while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

Just another cattle sale? Far from it. Beef producer, Robert Mackenzie has hosted Australia’s first carbon neutral cattle sale. Not just a marketing ploy for his family’s paddock-to-plate enterprise, Macka’s Australian Black Angus, Robert called the sale the beef industry’s ‘proof of concept’ – evidence it is working towards its Carbon Neutral 2030 target.

We often hear about the “cutting edge” or the most advanced technology or product but what about something that’s so radical and un-tested that it’s at the “bleeding edge”?
That kind of innovation can fill a gap in the market and deliver significant premiums but comes with risk.
A diverse group from the agrifood supply chain, both in Australian and export markets, share their insight in developing something new and finding a market willing to pay for it.

Indigenous people have lived in Australia and interacted with country for millennia. And over this period, they’ve developed knowledge systems which have been nurtured and passed down through generations. The Western world knows such knowledge systems as intellectual property (IP). But when Indigenous cultural IP and Western business models converge, how do we ensure shared benefit?
Here, Indigenous entrepreneurs and business leaders discuss the opportunities, risks – and tremendous importance – of sharing cultural knowledge with a modern world.

One’s a household name in agriculture and brings 185 years of experience to the table. The other boasts a deep-seated knowledge of soil health and is a leading consultant and provider of precision farming services in Australia. An ongoing partnership between Elders and Precision Agriculture Pty Ltd is helping farmers across Australia achieve their goals of improved nutrient use and more sustainable production.

Dyson doesn’t usually spring to mind when you think of agriculture. With its argument starting flatpacks, Ikea doesn’t either. And Justin Timberlake? Didn’t see that coming. Yet some of the most recognised names in business and entertainment have invested in agriculture, either for personal passion, environmental causes, profit – or all three. Meet nine brands, celebrities and businesses you wouldn't expect to have ventures in agriculture but do.

Geopolitical tensions, COVID-related constraints and unprecedented supply chain impacts have forced entire industries to reshape how they do business.

Four interwoven challenges: climate, COVID-19, conflict, and cost have disrupted agrifood supply chains and led to skyrocketing costs for farm inputs, all set amongst fears for global food security and the transition to a decarbonised economy.

A quick disclosure — I love M.J. Bale suits. I was married in one, and most items in my wardrobe that aren’t workwear bear its label. The popularity of the Australian menswear brand shouldn't mean that it needs to worry about things like ethical clothing or sustainability, which have become selling points with consumers. It speaks to the morality of the clothier that it does. After becoming Australia’s first carbon-neutral fashion brand in 2021, the tailors to farmers, footballers and the top end of town have partnered with Sea Forest, an environmental technology company based in Tasmania, to further decarbonise their business by attacking the gassiest part – the sheep that produce the wool.

From paddock to plate and each step along the supply chain, Harvest Road is transforming its approach to animal welfare and sustainability. With significant investments across its premium beef, aquaculture and horticulture businesses, Harvest Road CEO, Paul Slaughter shares their bold vision to becoming a global agrifood leader.

In this Humans of Agriculture x evoke^AG. collab podcast, Oli Le Lievre speaks with Anna Speer, the Managing Director of Woolworths' red meat business, Greenstock and evoke^AG. 2023 speaker.