Last month, we launched our inaugural Agritech Unleashed event in Hawke’s Bay, bringing together agritech leaders, growers, researchers and innovators.
This first stop in the regional event series explored how Aotearoa’s land and people are shaping the future of agritech, starting from the ground up. Designed to foster collaboration and uncover regional insights, the event reflected AgriTechNZ’s commitment to building a more connected and influential agritech ecosystem.
Key themes & discussion highlights
Throughout the day, participants engaged in rich dialogue on the realities, challenges, and opportunities within the agritech landscape.
In the opening fireside chat, Paul Burns (Craigmore Sustainables) emphasised the need for alignment between investment, operational performance, and technology adoption. “Scalable innovation must earn its place on-farm,” he noted, reinforcing that productivity and sustainability must go hand-in-hand.
In Tech That Fits, Cameron Taylor (Taylor Corporation) and Morgan Rogers (VentureFruit) shared lessons from integrating technology into commercial horticulture. They highlighted the value of clean, actionable data, the importance of change management, and how collaborative innovation can avoid duplication and speed up adoption.
The human side of agritech was front and centre in Beyond the Pitch, where Chelsea Hirst (Sprout Agritech) and Andrew Kersley (Smart Machine) spoke openly about the personal journeys behind building scalable ventures. They both emphasised resilience, aligned partnerships and the power of feedback loops.
Global context was added through Lessons from the Lion City, where Tammy Lemire (Pāmu), Chris Kerr (MPI), and Chelsea Hirst shared insights from a recent study tour to Singapore. The conversation underscored the importance of regulatory agility, global partnerships, and national-level strategies for food system resilience.
Spotlight on Innovation
Attendees were treated to a field trip at Taylor Corporation’s packhouse, where they saw automation, data systems, and post-harvest technologies in action. This experience reinforced the importance of demonstration and trust in driving adoption.
In the Tech Talks, Bridgit Hawkins (CropX), Dr Mark Bart (Metris), Hamish Penny (Croptide), and Richard Beaumont (Agovor) shared practical insights on climate-smart agriculture, real-time plant data, hyper-local weather forecasting, and mini autonomous tractors. These insights proved that New Zealand agritech is solving real-world problems in innovative ways.
Agritech Unleashed: Hawke’s Bay set the tone for a powerful series grounded in local relevance and national ambition. It’s also demonstrating that when we listen, connect, and collaborate, we can build a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable agritech sector.
Special thanks to our regional host Foodeast Haumako, our event sponsors Lockton and AGMARDT, and all the speakers and attendees who made the day a success.
What’s next?
Join our next regional event: Agritech Unleashed: Waikato on 21 August. We’re focusing on dairy farming, animal health, and precision agriculture.