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Australia emerges as a leading innovator for Agriculture 4.0 Investors and researchers are looking to Australia to develop the agricultural and food technologies of the future. ustralia’s long and distinguished history in agricultural research is cementing its position as a global hub for agriculture and food technology. Driven by a variety of climates and ecosystems, a stable and favourable business environment, and connectivity with the rapidly growing markets of Asia, Australia is capitalising on these advantages to become a centre for agtech and foodtech innovation. Australia for Agriculture 4.0, a new initiative by Austrade, the nation’s trade and investment promotion agency, is seeking investment to support export growth and boost innovation. It will showcase Australia’s agtech and foodtech capability, and highlight its unique technological advances, research excellence, strong record of innovation expertise, as well as the nation’s strong government support and established export channels. Austrade has developed a new digital platform (www.austrade.gov.au/agriculture40), launching today at evokeAG. This will showcase capabilities and insights from the Australian agtech and foodtech sector, and connect investors, exporters and research partners to Australia’s government, private sector and academic leaders and stakeholders in the field. “Australia has the potential to be a
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powerhouse in agrifood tech and we want to help the sector reach its full potential,” said Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham. “Our farmers are some of the most innovative in the world but we’re behind the pack when it comes to commercialising our food and farming technologies. This initiative is about connecting investors with Australian farmers and AgTech start-ups as well as creating more collaborative research and development opportunities.” Australia’s government invests more than A$600 million a year in agricultural research and development, and supports a National Farmers’ Federation initiative to grow Australian agriculture to a A$100 billion industry by 2030. “Australian farmers and food producers are recognised globally for their innovation, using technology to drive consistent productivity growth, develop better quality products and build globally competitive businesses. Despite facing some of the harshest environmental and climate conditions on the planet, they have made the country a top five producer of barley, oats, chickpeas, almonds, beef, sheep and wool,” said Karen Caston, Senior Investment Specialist, Agribusiness and Food, at Austrade. “Australian agricultural and food producers are also quick to harness cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-quality, traceable raw materials and products to export markets.
Our agtech and foodtech solutions are turning heads around the world, and we are seeing increasing interest from UK investors and research partners who see Australia as a testing ground or regional base for further development and entrepreneurship.” Global leaders in agtech and foodtech, such as Cisco and Bosch, are choosing Australia as a base to expand their innovation work. Cisco has invested in Australian agtech by establishing innovation centres in Perth and Sydney, two of only ten centres of innovation in Cisco’s global network. Leveraging the country’s strong agriculture industry, Cisco Australia is currently trialling a new innovation in agtech. The Farm Decision Platform is being trialled in New South Wales and Victoria to provide farmers with real-time data across their properties. The platform provides on-farm, secure connectivity over long distances and supports any third-party application/sensor. Industry partners can host their applications and sensors on the platform. Cisco’s aim is to take this solution globally together with its agtech partners. Visit www.austrade.gov.au/agriculture40 for more information on Australia’s agtech and foodtech sector and discover how we can help you and your business connect with Australia.
NFU responds to Farm Business Income figures Responding to the publication of the 2018/19 Farm Business Income forecast figures, NFU chief economics adviser Dr Andrew Francis said: “The decrease in Farm Business Income clearly highlights just how exposed agriculture is to market volatility and emphasises the continued need for measures to manage this. he NFU has set out its ambition for farms to be productive, profitable and progressive and for farmers to have access to a variety of tools to combat volatility in the marketplace. We are making that case to Government as the Agriculture Bill goes through Parliament and today’s figures reinforce the risks a volatile market poses for certain sectors. “This year is set to be incredibly challenging for farmers and the continued uncertainty is already impacting farm businesses. The NFU has maintained that it is vital a deal is agreed with the EU to ensure there is an orderly Brexit and we have been clear about what we believe are the crucial elements of a healthy and productive post-Brexit future for British farming. “The NFU continues to urge the government to take all the necessary steps to achieve a deal
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with the EU, that meet the NFU’s six principles agreed at an Extraordinary meeting of its Council in December. “A no-deal Brexit and its impacts would be catastrophic for the food and farming sector. For example, if the government took the position to unilaterally lower import tariffs on food, this could lead to food coming into the country which may have been produced to lower standards than are legally required here.
“We know that the public values and demands the high standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety that British farmers deliver. If the Government allows sub-standard food imports to undercut British farmers, that could have very serious implications for the supply of the safe, traceable and affordable food British farming provides for the nation.”
March 2019 | Farming Monthly | 09
