GrowAG gives Australian farmers access to latest technology

The free centralised platform shows Australia’s agrifood innovation opportunities, success stories, and a comprehensive database of Australia’s agrifood research projects. This one-stop shop has been launched in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and all of Australia’s 15 Research and Development Corporations.

Testing new technologies in real-world conditions

Farmers now have access to current and completed research projects across all rural industries, on one platform. Growag gives them increased opportunities to learn more about research and technology that is currently being developed, and participate by testing these in real-world conditions on their own farms.

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#growAG: Navigating the Australian ecosystem is not always easy. If your organisation contributes to the Australian agrifood system and are looking for collaboration activities around investment and/or research – submit your organisation's details here > https://t.co/enjjGJ8WRC

— evokeAG (@evokeAG) April 16, 2021

GrowAG says increased investment in Australian research and commercial opportunities by local and global investors, will mean that Australian farmers retain access to intellectual property and innovation that may otherwise never have made it on farm or to the Australian market

Growers can find agtech on the platform that helps them better manage the whole farm, their connectivity, harvesting, planting, pest and diseases, water and nutrients and other aspects of their business.

There is also a number of startups that are present on the platform, like Agerris, a company that has created a self-driving robotic farmhand that understands the size and status of the crop and can act in real time to perform critical on farm tasks.

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Australian Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud (left) and Managing Director John Harvey of AgriFutures Australia. – Photo: growAG

Commercialisation opportunities

GrowAG also showcases Australia’s technologies and commercialisation opportunities. One of these opportunities for example is commercialising a prototype harvester that can identify and pick fruit from the tree at commercially viable rates. An opportunity exists for machinery manufacturing and agronomy services companies that are interested in commercialising the platform and vision technology.

Innovation will drive productivity, meaning more dollars in the pockets of our farmers and stronger regional communities

Australian Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud expects that the platform will drive investment and commercialisation. “This platform offers to help ensure farmers have access to the latest technologies”, he said. “Innovation will drive productivity, meaning more dollars in the pockets of our farmers and stronger regional communities.”

More strategic investment in research projects

According to Executive Director Dr Ian Taylor One of the Cotton Research Development Corporation growAG highlights the key people and organisations working within the Australian rural innovation ecosystem. “It allows more strategic investment in research projects, opportunities to collaborate, and the ability to identify and decrease the risk of duplication in research investment.”

Andrew Coppin, Chair of AusAgritech says growAG is a fantastic platform and tool for the Australian agrifood tech sector. “Regional and global agrifood tech businesses are looking for innovation partners, pathways and opportunities in Australia”, he points out.

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Managing Director John Harvey of AgriFutures Australia says with growAg Australian farmers get the benefit of the technology they have paid for, being commercialised. – Photo: growAG

Attract global investment and collaboration

Managing Director John Harvey of AgriFutures Australia says growAg is an important step in Australia’s bid to attract global investment and collaboration to deliver innovation to our farmers. “Often the Australian market for agricultural innovation is too small to justify the costs of commercialisation. This results in technology remaining on the shelf, available to no one.”

Mr Harvey says Australian researchers are highly innovative. “It is time to catapult them into a global market as many of their technologies are highly scalable. This way Australian farmers get the benefit of the technology they have paid for, being commercialised.”