Innovators pitch ag-tech in Sydney

Six ag-tech projects from the Global Ag Tech Ecosystem (GATE) incubator in Orange, NSW are set to be pitched in Sydney this month, as part of a showcase from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) program to help commercialise research.

The projects include fruit ripeness sensor technology, and a biological herbicide for the treatment of weeds, an international grain trading diagnostic tool, real time alerts for vineyards, and fly larvae production for fish meal and other livestock supplements.

Dr John Tracey, Deputy Director General of Research Excellence, DPI, explains, “Making sure that we are driving the development of new technologies to maximise farmer productivity, profitability and resilience is critical for the long-term future of NSW primary industries.”

Each year, GATE offers 17 or 18 product developers programs including mentoring, incubation, accelerator services, commercialisation support, and investor showcases. It is open to individuals and companies that want to explore the viability of an ag-tech idea.

In 2018, The Training Paddock joined the ecosystem with a digital CV and skills standard that tracks and validates employees’ qualifications for farm operators. It secured a $100k investment from SparkLabs , a trial of its software with DPI’s Tocal College , and an invitation to the 2019 Global Entrepreneurs Summit in Netherlands.

DPI invests $500m in agriculture R&D, ranking it in the top 1% of the world for agricultural research institutions, according to the GATE website. It hosts 600 research and technical staff.

The free event at Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney on 10 September will showcase work by 2018 and 2019 GATE cohorts. Speeches and presentations will run from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, followed by a networking event.

The event is open to anyone interested in ag-tech and innovation, but seats are limited and registration is recommended by the organisers.