evokeAG

The food and beverage sector is Australia’s largest manufacturing industry, worth more than $132 billion, accounting for 32% of total manufacturing turnover, and employing more than 270,000 people. Yet, the advent of COVID-19, rising climate volatility and geopolitical tensions, have underscored the imperative for more resilient and innovative food systems.
 
 A recent opportunity listed on AgriFutures growAG sought to identify forward-thinking startups, SMEs or large companies with innovative solutions that can deliver ‘really clear benefits’ to Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.
 
In this bonus episode, contributor Samantha Noon sat down with Dr Chris Downs, Founding Director of Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), to discuss the launch of their $20M second investment round developed to take Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector forward.

Watch the webinar recording of FaBA's Accelerator Second Investment Round Launch here: https://faba.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023.08-Second-Investment-Round-Launch_FINAL.m4v

Have you ever heard of the concept of a digital twin? In this episode we’re hearing from Stu Adam, one of the Co-Founders of Agronomeye. Agronomeye is a business that creates incredibly detailed maps and models of farms, helping landowners and managers understand what's going on across their property so they can make better decisions. 

As an entrepreneur in the purest sense of the word, CEO Stu Adam has a background in journalism and admits he was more into surfing than agriculture. Perhaps it’s his ability to adapt that’s seen him revolutionise aerial mapping.

We hope you enjoy this conversation with Stu and evokeAG contributor, Jayne Cuddihy.

You can learn more about Agronomeye at evokeag.com or its website agronomeye.com.au.

evokeAG. 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them. Tickets are now on sale for  evokeAG 2024 to be held on on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia.

We hope to see you in Perth, however in the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 at evokeag.com.

Adam Anders is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Anterra Capital, a venture capital fund focussing on investing in innovative companies that are transforming the safety, security and sustainability of global food.

Having grown up on a farm in South Australia, Adam has lived the highs and lows of any budding entrepreneur, but admits it’s given him a unique insight into all facets of the sometimes gruelling process.  Now, at the helm of his company Anterra, he is committed to building a healthier food system right across the world.

Our contributor, Jayne Cuddihy, sat down with Adam at evokeAG 2023 to talk about what motivates him and how he plans to stay on top.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Early Bird tickets are now on sale for evokeAG 2024  which will be held on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agritech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Finding world-leading agrifood research expertise, and research, investment and commercialisation opportunities easily, let alone in one easy-to-use location, has always been a challenge – until AgriFutures growAG.

growAG is helping to connect its users, researchers, investors, innovators, thought leaders and commercial partners from around Australia and across the globe with agrifood innovation, expertise and opportunities. By shortening the time it can take to find and connect with strategic partners, its’ helping increase dealflow and drive value on-farm through the development and adoption of game changing technologies.

In this episode, we’re bringing you a conversation recorded live at evokeAG 2023 around accelerating commercialisation with AgriFutures growAG.

Professor Craig Baille, the former Head of School and Dean for Agriculture and Environmental Science from the University of Southern Queensland and Fern Ho, the Co-founder and CEO of Leaf Protein Co have both used the platform with tremendous success.

Listen to their stories, together with insights from John Harvey - the Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia.

For more information on the growAG platform, including more success stories and current investment opportunities, please visit growag.com.

As the transition from fossil fuels to renewables gathers pace globally, we brought together different perspectives in a breakout session at evokeAG 2023 in Adelaide. From those who’ve commercialised renewable fuels on a large scale, to the challenges of sustaining biofuels at a local level, our panellists shared the challenges and opportunities in the production and application of sustainable fuel sources. 

Before the live recording of the discussion,  evokeAG contributor, Jayne Cuddihy, sat down with Cassian Drew, Managing Partner at Acclimate Partners, and Steven Hobbs, a farm owner and manager who is a passionate user and producer of alternative fuels, to find out a bit more about how they are contributing to the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. 

Cassian and Steven were joined in the panel discussion by Jennifer Lauber- Patterson, Managing Director Frontier Impact Group. Their conversation was facilitated by Oli Madgett, Co-Organiser, Agritech Meetup SA. 

Visit evokeag.com for more on this session, and other Panel discussions at evokeAG 2023.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

With an expected two billion extra people to feed by 2050, coupled with changing tastes and dietary preferences, there is a growing global demand for more protein, produced more sustainably and from a wider variety of sources. So how, as a global community are we going to achieve that?  In this episode we’re exploring what it will take to satisfy the growing global appetite for protein.

The  panel discussion recorded live at evokeAG 2023 includes Professor Michelle Colgrave, the Deputy Director (Impact), Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, David Jochinke, Vice President, National Farmers’ Federation, Dr Steven Lapidge, CEO, Fight Food Waste and Anthony  Stewart, CEO, Thomas Foods International. Their conversation is facilitated by Dr Aparna Venkatesh, the Collaborative Innovation Lead for the Bühler Group.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Globally, research and investment into biological solutions to improve soil and plant health is accelerating exponentially.

As regulators around the world seek to reduce the application of chemical pesticides, farmers and growers are looking at biological alternatives to protect plants from diseases, pests, and weeds, or to improve the health of their plants. 

This workshop, recorded live at evokeAG 2023 looks at the global landscape for biologicals development and application and explores the opportunities it offers to researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.

In this episode we hear from Ben Barlow, Managing Director, New Edge Microbials, Ethy Levy, Managing Partner, Kinneret Impact Ventures and Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar from the Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre - New Zealand’s national seed bank of grassland plants. The conversation was moderated by Peter Wren-Hilton, Co-Founder and CEO, Wharf 42 and Co-Convenor of the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them. 

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 at evokeag.com.

How does an engineer end up crystal ball gazing for next gen plant breeding on a global scale?  By thinking outside the box of course!

In this episode we’re hearing from Alexander Tokarz, the head of group strategy for Syngenta Group. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he’s responsible for the company’s long-term growth strategy and business development.

His presentation at evokeAG inspired attendees to think about the potential of next gen plant breeding and how it can be used to create a more sustainable and secure world and help humanity grow.  But as he told our contributor Jayne Cuddihy, his role at Syngenta over the last 20 years is a far cry from his original training as an engineer.
 
We hope you enjoy their conversation. 

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Clean and green is to New Zealand, what the Emerald Isle is to Ireland and what innovation is to Israel. These countries have built brand identities and entire markets on leveraging their unique strengths and stories. 

In this episode we’re bringing you three presentations recorded live at evokeAG 2023 from David Downs, CEO of New Zealand Story, Shifka Seigel, Project Manager, Israel Australian Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Shelman, Founder of the Shelman Group.

What can Australia learn from these international powerhouses about how to position our producers and innovators on the world stage to deliver direct benefits across the entire supply chain?

We hope you enjoy this session

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Uber and Airbnb turned two conventional industries on their heads. How did they do it? Using software that allows two applications to talk to each other. Now it’s agriculture’s turn. 

In this episode we're bringing you a workshop  " Data as a second language: understanding what your farm is saying to you" recorded at evokeAG 2023. 

Here Andrew Skinner, Director of More Than Machines, and Andrew Cooke , Co-Founder and Managing Director, Rezare Systems showcased the possibilities and benefits of connecting data to create new business models and operating efficiencies for producers and companies alike, in what they’ve coined the ‘Internet of Agrifood’.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here

Australia's rural industries face increasing community expectations on a range of issues including environmental management, labour workforce conditions and acceptance of new technologies. Achieving the sector's $100 billion production goal by 2030, requires a pipeline of talented and committed people- the lifeblood of our rural industries.

Dr Kieren Moffat is the CEO and Co- Founder Voconiq- a data science and community engagement company, tasked with breaking down the barriers of explaining how Australia’s rural industries can cope with increasing community expectations on a range of issues, including environmental management, labour workforce conditions, and acceptance of new technologies.

We hope you enjoy his presentation recorded live at evokeAG 2023. For more on this project visit agrifutures.com.au.

Save the date for evokeAG. 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG. 2023 here.

Self-driving tractors, seed planting robots and agricultural drones are all putting new technology and better outcomes in the hands of our producers.

This episode is a panel discussion recorded live at evokeAG 2023. The companies making it happen and the producers using the tech come together to share what’s in the market right now, what’s to come, and to discuss at what point does autonomous agriculture start to pay for itself on-farm?

The panel features Professor Craig Baillie, Head of School and Dean Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Southern Queensland, Andrew Bate, the CEO and Co-Founder, SwarmFarm Robotics, Ben Kelly, the Production Systems Manager – Production and Precision Ag, John Deere, and Robert Hardie, the Executive Manager - Health and Agriculture at nbn™ Australia. 

Their conversation is facilitated by Jackie Poyser, CEO and Managing Director, Three60 Consulting.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Until recently there wasn’t a single Australian venture capital firm focussed on agritech. Today, there are multiple players.  In this episode we explore two very different experiences -  an Australian company that has leveraged government incentives and local funding, and an international company seeking local backing to enter the Australian and New Zealand marketplace.

Justin Webb, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, of AgriWebb facilitated this conversation and was joined by Phil Morle,  Partner in Main Sequence Ventures, Kristi Riordan, the Co-founder & CEO of Harvest B, Saar Safra, Founder and CEO of Beewise and Robert Williams, Director, Artesian.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

It wasn't so long ago that space exploration was a pipe dream, but now in 2023, we're talking about the very real applications it has for Australian agriculture. Recorded live at evokeAG 2023, this panel discussion takes a deep dive into the future of agri space tech.

With a focus on research and development, potential ground-breaking applications and new ways of working, you'll  hear from innovators about how this technology can be leveraged better here on earth, to support more sustainable and profitable farming practices.

It features Stephanie Wan, Space Industry Practice, Lead for the Adelaide Office, KPMG Australia and Devon Long, General Manager of ANZ, Regrow. The discussion is facilitated by Charlie Peel, a rural reporter with The Australian.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Australia and New Zealand's land-based agricultural industries have set ambitious sustainability targets for the future. In this episode we’ve got a reality check- looking beyond sustainability frameworks in agriculture, industry experts share the realities of their progress beyond frameworks and targets, what keeps them up at night, and how producers can be part of the solution. 

Involved in this conversation is Michael Anderson, Head of Sustainability, GrainCorp, Bridgit Hawkins, Chief Sustainability Officer, CropX, and Anna Speer, Managing Director, Greenstock- Woolworths Group’s stand-alone red meat business. The panel is facilitated by The Australian’s Rural Reporter, Charlie Peel.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

In this episode we’re uncovering the secret sauce to commercialisation- bringing together the key ingredients needed to transform agricultural technology from startup to fully fledged commercial player. 

Syngenta is a provider of plant health solutions and Pairtree Intelligence is a data integrator - together their aligned partnership is adding value to farmers. 

In this session from evokeAG fifth-generation farmer and CEO of Pairtree Intelligence, Hamish Munro and Brett Hofman, Head of Business Development, Syngenta Australia and New Zealand share some of the ingredients in their "secret sauce".

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Science and technology, coupled with an investment in skills and capability, need to be harnessed to empower farmers to shape the future of natural capital management and environmental reporting. This episode considers the innovation needed to enable natural capital to be treated as a factor of production in agriculture. It also explores the potential benefits and opportunities that can flow from investment in this. 

Recorded live at evokeAG 2023 the discussion is facilitated by Chris Scheid, Director, ProAdvice, and includes  Jen Barwick, National Climate and Nature Coordinator, Pew Charitable Trust, Dr Daniel Gregg, Founder and Principal Economist, Heuris Pty Ltd, and Dr Sue Ogilvy, the Program Director at the Macdoch Foundation (Farming for the Future Project). 

Find more on this session at evokeag.com

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Our growing ability to engineer biology with automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics is driving a biomanufacturing revolution.

This wide-ranging session looks at some of the most cutting-edge developments, from space ag’s push to enable long term space habitation and sustainability on Earth, to the fermentation advancements driving the wineries of the future, and new processing technology in dry fractionation for plant protein.

Brought to you by evokeAG Partner, The University of Adelaide, this workshop "Next gen: biomanufacturing for Earth, sustainability and space" was facilitated by Lieke van der Hulst, Executive Offer, Waite Research Institute and features four of the uni’s brightest minds.

We hope you enjoy these presentations from: Professor Rachel Burton, Head of the Food Science Department, Professor Vladimir Jiranek from the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Robert Falconer, a Professor of Bioprocess Engineering and Associate Professor Jenny Mortimer, an expert in Plant Synthetic Biology in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.

evokeAG 2023 examined how global agrifood innovation and tech intersect to drive change for our food, farmers, and the natural resources which sustain them.

Save the date for evokeAG 2024 on 20-21 February 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. In the meantime catch up on the other conversations about sustainability, climate resilience and the role of agtech in meeting those challenges from evokeAG 2023 here.

Government, industries and companies are stepping up their climate commitments and evokeAG. 2023 highlighted the opportunities and potential challenges for agriculture in tapping into the carbon market. A panel of experts working in this space argued there’s more than one way for farmers to cash in on soil carbon and climate friendly management practices, but that data is the key.

This session was facilitated by Oli Madgett and brings together Stuart Austin, General Manager Wilmot Cattle Co, Dr Nicole Buckley Biggs, Director of Sustainability, AgriWebb, Greg Butler, Managing Director Clean Carbon Pty Ltd and Dr Rob Waterworth, Co Founder and CEO FLINTPro.

Read more about the session and catch up on evokeAG highlights at evokeag.com.

The application of agritech is often positioned to improve operational efficiency, profitability and sustainability. 

Industry is now leveraging on-farm data and infrastructure to provide a more robust end-to-end supply chain. In this session, experts from three of Australia’s leading agri-corporates discuss the peripheral value drivers that producers should consider in their pursuit of digitising their business.

In this episode,  we hear from Dr Ben Baghurst is the Founder and Principal Consultant, AgTech Consulting, Mark Barber is the General Manager, Farmland Agency and Investments for Elders, and Carmel Onions is the National Director Agribusiness for the Commonwealth Bank.  Their discussion at evokeAG 2023 was facilitated by Michael Macolino, Managing Director, SVG Ventures Thrive. 

Read more about the session here.