The forced social experiment of the current pandemic leaves me feeling incredibly grateful for our place in the world. Thankfully, we can connect in person as a local community of interests in global agritech, here in Aotearoa. We are currently three events into a 10 event roadshow and the interactions are invigorating on many levels. Later this month, we’ll publish our 2021 calendar of events, providing further opportunities to connect.
Locally and overseas, as a sector, agritech is taking new shape, so there has never been a more important time to consider what collaboration and cooperation, look and feel like. Our current roadshow includes an update on the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) as workstream activities progress. The opportunity for industry engagement is key to its success, so we hope you can make it to one of the sessions.
Many of you will be aware of the Agritech Story created by New Zealand Story and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). As part of our ITP work, we are seeking interested parties to join workshops during March and April to take a pulse check and co-create our international campaign. If you are marketing your business in international markets, or are ready to do so, we would love to hear from you.
We are also making good progress in the creation of a Baseline of Digital Adoption in Primary Industry audit. This will gauge some of the qualitative and quantitative progress in technology use across different farming systems. Again, if you would like to support this work, we’re keen to hear from you.
Meanwhile, entries for the Most Innovative Hitech Agritech Solution in the New Zealand Hi Tech awards close on 8 March. Here’s some tips for writing an entry that will get noticed. Don’t forget to save the date for the awards dinner on 28 May.Applications are now open for Fieldays Innovation 2021 with revised categories and more prize money, although the real prize is the global attention these awards receive. This year, Fieldays is 16-19 June at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
Registrations are also open for the Sprout Agritech Accelerator’s second intake, commencing in July. The Sprout Accelerator is tailor made for each company, focussing on four core areas to enable scalable growth – high margin business models, channels to market, building world class teams, investment readiness and capital raising. This year’s first cohort has been announced and will soon begin their journey of discovery. Applications close on 9 June.
Ngā mihi
Brendan
CEO
AgriTech New Zealand
To receive our full newsletter including additional industry updates and information, subscribe now.