After weeks of frustration and concerns about how the looming harvest would be managed, a…
growAG puts Australia’s top ag research on show
Global investment is often the key ingredient for turning highly innovative levy-funded research into reality, and this is one of the main goals of a new platform recently launched by AgriFutures Australia – built to sustain and encourage more top ag research.
The publicly-available platform, growAG.com, has been created in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and all of Australia’s 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) to showcase Australia’s ag research to the world.
The information is designed to allow farmers, investors, corporates, researchers, startups, industry, government and universities around the world to locate information and opportunities to deliver innovation back to the farm and the food supply chain.
It was launched last week with Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, who said it will drive investment and commercialisation which will enable farmers to access the latest in farming technologies.
“Innovation will drive productivity, meaning more dollars in the pockets of our farmers and stronger regional communities,” Mr Littleproud said.
“A world class agricultural innovation system is an Australian Government priority and a key pillar in support of the industry’s target for a $100 billion sector by 2030.”
growAG.com is a centralised platform which showcases Australia’s agrifood innovation opportunities, success stories and also includes a comprehensive database of Australia’s current agrifood research projects.
It has also made it simple and easy for farmers to see the research projects that their levies are paying for.
More strategic research investment
Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC) Executive Director, Dr Ian Taylor says the platform will decrease the risk of duplication when it comes to research projects.
“With increased transparency, growAG. highlights the key people and organisations working within the Australian rural innovation ecosystem and allows more strategic investment in research projects, opportunities to collaborate, and the ability to identify and decrease the risk of duplication in research investment.”
Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC) Executive Director, Dr Ian Taylor
“For many years, the RDCs have been working collaboratively across many projects and on growAG. all 15 RDCs come together again. growAG. provides a transparent gateway to our innovation system – a very exciting step forward.”
AusAgritech Australia Chair, Andrew Coppin, said the platform is a fantastic tool for the Australian agrifood tech sector.
“Regional and global agrifood tech businesses are looking for innovation partners, pathways and opportunities in Australia and growAG. showcases the agrifood innovation and solutions Australia has on offer to the world.”
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emerging Management, David Littleproud, said the platform will drive investment and commercialisation.
“A world class agricultural innovation system is an Australian Government priority and a key pillar in support of the industry’s target for a $100 billion sector by 2030.”
Delivering innovation
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey, said the growAG platform is an important step in Australia’s bid to attract global investment and collaboration to deliver innovation to 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 said.
“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.
“growAG. provides domestic and international audiences with an easy way to find and connect with the research partners they are after.”
Seamless addition to evokeAG
The new site works with evokeAG, Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood tech event. evokeAG is home to hundreds of resources including news, case studies, videos, podcasts and a Startup Directory.
If you enjoyed this feature on top ag research corporations, you might like our story on smart farms of the future.
