AgTech Finder

Talking the future of farming with Gatton Smart Farm

In this episode we’re talking about Smart Farms and the role they’re playing in driving and de-risking agtech adoption.  
We speak to Food Agility CRC chief scientist professor David Lamb about how artificial intelligence will be used to collate data and inform decision-making.  
We also hear from Ian Layden from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Gatton Smart Farm. Gatton Smart Farm is based in the sub-tropical Lockyear Valley and focuses on agtech adoption within the horticulture industry, focusing on automation, protected cropping and post-harvest solutions.  
And we’ll chat to Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman. Kalfresh grows, processes and markets vegetables and has collaborated with Gatton Smart Farm to showcase in-field robotics to Australian growers.  
www.agtechfinder.com  

Talking drones with Single Agriculture

In this episode we’re talking about drones. Many farmers have gone out and bought a drone with big plans, only for it soon to be sitting on the shelf collecting dust. But in this episode, we hear about some of the ways that farmers are using the technology effectively on-farm.  
We speak to agricultural drone trainer Fiona Lake about improving adoption by busting the myths that surround drones.  
We also hear from Ben Single of Single Agriculture whose drone technology is used to identify weeds, allowing farmers to target the use of herbicides.  
And we chat to Darling Downs grower Wade Bidstrup who says using the Single Shot drone has helped him get on top of chemical-resistant weeds.  
www.agtechfinder.com 

Talking traceability with Source Certain

In this episode, the last of season one, we’re talking about traceability and the technology being utilised to prove a product’s provenance.  
We speak once again to Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb about consumers’ growing demand for knowledge about the products they’re purchasing and traceability’s role in preventing food fraud.  
 We talk to Source Certain’s Katherine Campbell about their technology which can scientifically determine source of origin, even down to an individual block.  
And we’re joined by Sean Engelbrecht from fresh fruit supplier WA Farm Direct. He tells us about why they’ve engaged Source Certain to protect the Bravo apple variety IP, making sure it’s only licenced growers that are supplying the market. 
www.agtechfinder.com 

Talking livestock management with Optiweigh

This episode we’re talking about livestock management technology found in the paddock, the yards or the shearing shed.  
We’re joined once again by South Australian sheep and cattle farmer and agtech adoption specialist Penny Schulz, who tells us about how technology is improving safety and efficiency and reducing labour requirements.   
We speak to Optiweigh’s Max Laurie about their in-paddock weighing system that aims to drive profit and reduce animal handling.  
And we also speak to northern Queensland cattle farmer Noeline Dore who has been using Optiweigh units in their breeding and fattening operation. She says the units have helped her to closely monitor the condition of their mobs, book in cattle for consignment and reduce livestock handling.  
www.agtechfinder.com

Talking spray advisory with INCYT

In this episode we’re talking about technology that advises growers on when and how to spray in order to improve spray efficacy and reduce the risk of spray drift.  
We speak to Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb, who explains why hazardous inversions can cause spray particles to travel tens of kilometres.  
We’re also joined by INCYT founder Simon Blyth who talks about their latest spray advisory technology, Maverick. He tells us how the technology is helping growers plan more effective spraying programs, while reducing risk, taking inspiration from its Top Gun namesake.  
And we speak to Stop Off-Target Spraying (SOS NSW) coordinator Annette McCaffery, who tells us about the importance of using tools that offer real-time local weather data to help inform spraying decisions.  

Talking animal health and nutrition with ProAgni

In this episode we’re talking about the technology involved in animal health and nutrition, which includes everything probiotics to on-farm diagnostic lab kits. 
We speak to professor Jane Quinn from Charles Sturt University about the challenge of proving the value proposition of animal health and nutrition technology on-farm and the importance of data integration.  
We’re also joined by ProAgni co-founder Fiona Soulsby who tells us about their new probiotic which will help rapidly transition sheep and cattle to a grain-based diet, improving animal health and production.  
And we talk to Victorian sheep farmer Dean Harrington who has been using ProAgni products in his family-run feedlot operation. He says he hopes using an antibiotic-free supplement will put them on the front foot when it comes to consumer demands, with antimicrobial resistance a growing global concern.  

Talking irrigation and plant sensors with Athena IR-Tech

In this episode we’re talking about irrigation and in particular plant sensors that are able to tell growers when their crops need water.  
We speak to our regular podcast expert, Food Agility CRC chief scientist professor David Lamb about how the rising cost of water is driving adoption of plant sensors in high-value broadacre crops.  
We’re joined by Athena IR-Tech CEO Jay Holata, who tells us about their Transp-IR technology which measures plant and environment temperature, humidity and solar radiation to calculate when a crop needs water.  
And we speak to South Australian viticulturist and Nuffield scholar Hans Loder, who has been using the Transp-IR technology in conjunction with soil moisture probes to better understand the water needs of their vines, particularly during extreme weather events.  
www.agtechfinder.com  

Talking farm safety with Safe Ag Systems

In this episode we’re talking about the agtech that is helping producers improve their farm safety and compliance.  
We speak to FarmSafe Australia chair Felicity Richards about how agtech is supporting behavioural changes on farm.  
We’re also joined by Safe Ag Systems CEO and co-founder Katy Landt. Katy started Safe Ag Systems with her mother, Caroline Graham. She tells us that to encourage adoption they built their software to improve both safety procedures and operational efficiencies. 
And we’ll chat to independent safety consultant Joanne Hamilton-Vale who has used SafeAg Systems with dozens of clients, from family farms with one employee to large corporates.  
www.agtechfinder.com 

Talking pests, weeds and disease management with BioScout

In this episode we’re talking about pest, weed and disease management, particularly focusing on technology that allows for better management of fungal diseases in crops.  
We speak to podcast regular Food Agility CRC chief scientist professor David Lamb about the potential for agtech to replace or minimise chemical use in the future.  
We’re also joined by BioScout CEO Lewis Collins, who tells about how their technology is helping to reduce the impact of fungal diseases in crops and better target fungicide sprays.  
And we’ll speak to Jane Parker from herb and spices supplier McCormick about how they’ve been using BioScout to tackle a fungal disease that can decimate basil crops.  
www.agtechfinder.com 

Talking geospatial mapping with NGIS and CSBP Fertilisers

In this episode we’re talking about geospatial mapping, technology that is being used in everything from variable rate application of fertiliser to proving provenance.  
We speak to podcast regular Food Agility CRC chief scientist professor David Lamb about how much faster geospatial maps can now be processed and how this has changed decision-making for farmers.  
We’re also joined by Matt Stewart from NGIS, a geospatial mapping company that has been working in Australia for more than 30 years in a number of industries, including agriculture. He’ll tell us how the technology is starting to be used to assess the impact of climate.  
And we’ll speak to Doug Hamilton from WA’s CSBP Fertilisers. CSBP engaged NGIS to help build DecipherAg, a tool which allows farmers to compare and track performance across their farms using geospatial technology.  
www.agtechfinder.com