Agtech
Digital transformation of agriculture has the potential to boost production by 25 per cent. And it is being driven right here from Victoria.
Explore opportunities emerging alongside this shift.
With a technology base that is contributing to a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in smart farming devices1, Victoria’s leading advances in digital agriculture innovations make it the perfect destination for the development of new and integrated systems.
Home to a quarter of Australia’s farm businesses, Victoria’s thriving agtech sector is at the forefront of an industry predicted to be worth A$100 billion by 20302. Soaring demand for improved efficiencies is also driving exciting foreign investment opportunities in this area.
Sources:
- AgriFutures - “Emerging technologies in agriculture: Consumer perceptions around emerging AgTech” Report 2018
- AgriFutures - “Agriculture - a $100b sector by 2030?” Report 2019
We can help you explore emerging agtech opportunities in Melbourne and Australia
As Australia’s largest exporter of agricultural produce, the Victorian Government is actively supporting industry and business to develop on-farm technology, food innovations and process efficiencies that will boost productivity and meet record supply demands across the sector. Click below to find out about opportunities that include:
Farm management software
- Data-driven systems that monitor seed-to-landscape processes, livestock health and irrigation. There is historic demand for insights that support informed decisions and improve productivity
- Robotics and mechanisation systems that facilitate dairy processing, feeding and quality control. Australian farmers are looking for ways to reduce cost and waste through efficient applications
- Energy technologies that improve farm productivity and reduce costs. Rising energy costs are impacting many farming businesses and Victoria is supporting innovations in new energy technology
Innovations in food development and processing
- Development in high-quality and sustainable food. Victoria is home to world-leading research expertise and infrastructure that bring together industry, business and community partnerships to develop high value products
- Food innovation and product development. Victoria’s superior food and processing facilities service a growing demand for speciality products that offer consumers choice, health and luxury
Supply chain and logistics
- Chain verification and traceability technology. As supply volume increases alongside market demand for reliable source information, technical solutions that improve traceability and ensure high-quality and fresh produce will be important to producers and global consumers alike
- Accelerated processing and delivery efficiencies. Industrial properties and assets are set for dramatic change in supply and demand, with delivery speed and efficiency becoming increasing important
Case studies: Agtech
Why choose Melbourne for your agtech operations?
Australia’s premier location for R&D in agriculture technology and food processing
Develop, advance and market your innovation from a mature and growing ecosystem that if nationally implemented would boost productivity by 25 per cent.3
Victoria has the perfect blend of agricultural and technology capability, with one quarter of Australia’s agricultural output produced here - from just 3 per cent of Australia's land mass - and a globally-recognised and industry integrated technology sector.
Victoria’s thriving agriculture industry is a major contributor to the state economy and has been a national source of high-quality produce, particularly in wool, meat, grains, dairy, fruit and vegetables, since the 1800s.
Victoria is home to:
- 25 per cent of all farm businesses in Australia with around 20,000 farms4, including anetwork of digitally integrated smart-farms that are perfect launching grounds for research and product testing
- Australia’s largest and most established food and beverage processing sector, which employs more than 73,400 people and accounts for 31 per cent of Australia’s food manufacturing jobs5
- World-leading food innovation centres including CSIRO’s Food Innovation Centre, Centre For AgriBioscience, Monash Food Innovation and Agribio
- Major supply chain and logistics leaders such as Border Express, Coles, Linfox, TNT, Toll, DB Schenker, CEVA, DHL Express, Australia Post, NewCold & Mainfreight
- the busiest curfew free passenger and container airport in Australia. The Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest capital city container and general cargo port.
Perfect combination of deep skills and talent in agriculture and technology
- Victoria has more skilled professionals in AgriBusiness and Sustainable Agriculture than Sydney. Victoria’s talent pool for AgriBusiness and Sustainable Agriculture is double that of Hong Kong and Singapore6
- Investors in Victoria have access to the right specialist talent in AgTech, with Victoria producing more graduates in Agriculture and Environmental Studies and Natural and Physical Sciences than any other location in Australia6
- Victoria has a large pool of talent in key tech occupations. The number of Solutions Architects in Victoria outstrips both Singapore and Hong Kong, and is increasing faster than elsewhere in Australia6
- There are more software engineers in Victoria than NSW or Hong Kong6
- Victoria has well-developed research capabilities in its university sector with several of the state’s major universities offering courses in Agricultural Science, FoodTech and Biotechnology
Dynamic global research and business partnership models
- Well connected with preferential access to Asia’s largest markets and has Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Chile, New Zealand, the United States, Singapore and Thailand.
- The Centre For AgriBioscience is one of Australia's premier biosciences facilities, connecting students, industry and science
- Victoria houses over 14 agricultural research and development facilities and organisations, including the Grains Innovation Park at Horsham, Horticulture Innovation Australia, and the ARC Dairy Innovation Hub and Melbourne University's Agricultural Campus
- Monash University’s joint agtech facility with Bosch houses a smart farm focused on incubation of new methods and technologies
Strong government commitment and support
The Victorian Government has:
- supported the SproutX initiative, Australia’s largest and leading AgTech innovation hub, drawing further support from Amazon Web Services, the CSIRO, Bosch and NBN Co.
- co-invested with The Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, who dedicate $600 million per year on research to drive profitability and productivity7.
- provided $65 million funding for an Agriculture strategy that positions Victorian agriculture for future growth and access to AgTech solutions and innovative farming methods.
- developed cutting-edge Smart Farms, a cornerstone of the government’s investment in digital agriculture
Sources:
6. Linkedin Jobs Insights Report September 2020
7. Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations - Funding Australia’s Research Report 2018
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