#Agrifood tech

A $60 million investment program designed to galvanise the research and adoption of agritech in regional farming areas has been launched by Charles Sturt University, Australia’s largest educator of agricultural students.

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.

A nice drop is in order for Onside after the Christchurch-based farm management app recently took out the AgTech and Digital category at the Wine Industry IMPACT Awards. The company was recognised for its ‘Track and Trace’ pilot project, which involved 90 winegrowers across four New South Wales (NSW) wine regions, putting its traceability technology to the test to improve biosecurity in various communities.

In early-2023 CropX Technologies, a global developer of agronomic farm management solutions, had only a small number of remote employees in Australia. Now it has quadrupled in size and established an office location thanks to its recent acquisition of Green Brain, a prominent digital irrigation management solutions provider based in Adelaide, South Australia.

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.

2023 was a very challenging year for the startup world. Across the board, the number of deals, speed of investment, valuations, and totals invested all saw a downturn. Uncertainty ran high. Conservatism pervaded. It was tough for investors and startups alike. Here Sarah Nolet, Managing Partner, Tenacious Ventures and speaker at evoke^AG. 2024 explores what startups need to scale in 2024, the paths to returns, and what the influx of international investors means for agrifood tech in Australia.

Will you be exhibiting, pitching or attending any agritech conferences in 2024? The upcoming calendar provides many opportunities to explore – but there’s one event that’s highlighted, booked and blocked out in my calendar.

Investment in Australian agrifood tech remained relatively robust last year – even in the face of a global downturn. Now, local data for 2023 suggests it’s continuing to hold strong. Leading the way are upstream, climate-conscious innovations.

It’s your last chance to get your application in for the evoke^AG. Startup Program. With applications closing on Monday, 23 October, AgriFutures Program Manager, Dallas Pearce is expecting applications in climate tech, mining tech, and everything in between – and she encourages startups from across the agri-food tech spectrum to apply.

AgriFutures evoke^AG. is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event is back in 2024 and is bringing a diverse group of individuals and organisations in Perth on 20-21 February 2024 to explore the exceptional edge of agrifood tech innovation. From farmers, to innovators, researchers, corporations, government agencies and investors – and everyone in between. It’s two days to check out cutting edge-technologies and disruptive business models – oh and did we mention you can forge partnerships with a network of cutting edge innovators? If that’s not enough to get your boss (or if you’re the boss YOU) over the line, here are the top six reasons you should book your ticket.

Biotechnology is changing the lens through which we understand biology, and in doing so is transforming our approach to health and nutrition. Here we explore four companies and innovative applications of this rapid developing field.

Billions of dollars and decades of experience in venture capital come together as five leading global investors talk agrifood tech – and their outlook is bright.
evoke^AG. 2023 set the scene for this high-powered discussion about what’s impacting agrifood tech investment.