At AgriTechNZ we have a wide and growing Membership base that spans the entire ecosystem. We’d like to send a warm welcome to the latest members to join our community.
Well Balanced – Well Balanced are a team of New Zealand investors focused on growth in domestic and international markets for agribusiness, necessary technology, property, building and construction and energy.
Tnue – Tnue customises fertiliser delivery solutions to achieve optimal Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) through the manufacture of Control Release Membrane (CRM) and the application of the CRM to the fertiliser granule.
Air Vision NZ Ltd – Air Vision NZ is a small family-owned business located in Levin specialising in drone services including mapping, surveying and inspections.
Volly Solutions – Volly Solutions are a small family-owned business based in Morrinsville, Hamilton offering farm mapping, aerial imagery and other drone-based services as well as digital farm solutions.
We’re already moving at pace with a full calendar of agritech activities scheduled for the first half of 2023, so get ready for a collective push to advance the industry in 2023.
We’ll do our part by connecting people and ideas, promoting projects and problems worth solving and advancing the growth of our industry. This year, we begin with the Agritech Connect Tour 2023 on the road during March.
With the support of our Members and community, we’re looking forward to a powerful 2023.
Brendan O’Connell Chief Executive, AgriTechNZ
Welcome to our new Members
At AgriTechNZ we have a wide and growing Membership base that spans the entire ecosystem. We’d like to send a warm welcome to the latest members to join our community.
Bovonic – Bovonic is revolutionising how dairy farmers control and defeat disease through their platform QuadSense.
Halter – Halter connects the gap between human and animal understanding with smart innovation featuring their registered Cowgorithm.
OmniEye New Zealand– OmniEye is an automated on-farm camera-based livestock scoring and monitoring system for the dairy industry. Helping farmers keep an “intelligent eye” over their herd.
Onside – Onside puts risk management in the hands of everyone, allowing anyone checked in to report hazards via the app.
Special thanks to the hardworking AgriTechNZ and NZTech teams, our wise and generous Executive Council, our awesome Members, plus our collaborative industry and Government partners. I wish you all a regenerative holiday season!
On the road again
We’re back on the road from early February! Our Agritech Connect Tour will share updates and gather your valuable input on the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan and more. You’ll learn more about our tools, resources and 2023 plans. Our tour is the ideal opportunity to connect, learn and influence. Stay tuned for more information, but until then, please save these dates: 2 February in Christchurch, 8 February in Hamilton, 10 February in Tauranga, 14 February in Auckland, 2 March in Wellington, 7 March in Nelon, 9 March in Dunedin and 15 March in Palmerston North. Further dates and locations to be announced.
Coming soon… even more agritech news!
In 2023, we’re launching a new channel with Farmers Weekly, curating agritech industry news. Keep updated on agritech solutions in our industry that contributes $1.6 billion towards New Zealand’s economy with potential growth of $10 billion over the next decade.
Fieldays was certainly a success for AgriTechNZ with plenty of authentic opportunities to connect with the industry. Our sold out events received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The Women in Agriculture session hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) was especially popular and we intend to repeat it. The opportunity to meet and discuss sector interests had some unexpected consequences. For example, our position in the Pavilion at the inaugural Fieldays Digital Futures Hub meant we were able to guide visitors to specific exhibitors of interest. Planning is well underway for Fieldays 2023, 14-17 June. The Fieldays Innovation Awards were also a great success, and applications are now open for next year.
Join our first 2023 webinar: Global Insights – How can New Zealand respond to overseas trends?
Meet 2022 Nuffield scholar Lucie Douma, who shares key agritech insights following her international study tour exploring environmental and farming contexts. This year, Lucie spent four months visiting farmers, growers and support organisations across Europe, North America and Australia. Join us to hear Lucie’s key agritech insights including water challenges in North America, labour shortages, corporatising farm trends, food security, soil understanding and knowledge, plus the corn belt and the role of genetically modified organisms (GMO). She will also discuss the impact of production and growth trends for New Zealand and how we position ourselves on the global stage.
AgriFutures Australia are hosting the next agrifood tech event in Adelaide, 20-21 February. We’ll be there to connect the ecosystem of farmers, innovators, researchers, companies and investors. We highly recommend you join us and strengthen our Trans-Tasman representation. Once you’ve secured your tickets please register for Callaghan Innovation’s Australian Market Immersion to ensure you gain the most from your visit.
As part of the Agritech ITP, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and AgriTechNZ are gauging levels of interest and commitment to aquatech developments. Do you know any local companies who have innovative solutions in aquaculture or in an adjacent technology/sector and would benefit from a top quality market entry accelerator? There is potential for a New Zealand cohort to participate in an international aquaculture market entry accelerator. We are currently seeking recommendations from our networks for prospective cohort participants. The accelerator will be delivered by global aquaculture specialists Hatchin partnership with NZTE.
We’re excited to host a special event at Fieldays to celebrate inspirational women in our industry in partnership with New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Unfortunately tickets have sold out, but please email us if you would like to be involved in future initiatives like this.
A highlight for us, the Fieldays Innovation Awards deliver a global platform for creative problem solvers to showcase their innovation to the primary industries and the opportunity to be recognised. We wish all finalists the best of luck and will celebrate the winners as they are announced next week.
FIELDAYS: Lunch & Learn – Solutions for Successful Digital Adoption
We are excited to be hosting the Lunch & Learn session Solutions for Successful Digital Adoption event on Thursday 1 December, followed by a networking lunch sponsored by the United Kingdom (UK) Department of International Trade. Unfortunately space is limited and tickets have now sold out. We’ll keep you updated on social media and please let us know if you are keen to connect with the UK mission.
Check out all the agritech events being hosted during Fieldays including an online tools seminar, airborne agritech seminar and tour, NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement Event and ecosystem networking.
Over 30 of our AgriTechNZ Members are exhibiting at Fieldays this year and if that’s you, please come and visit us at the Fieldays® Digital Futures Hub in the Main Pavilion. Kylie and I will also be out and about visiting as many of you as possible. This may include posing for a few selfies to share on social media to help promote your attendance, so please be prepared to say ‘cheese’!
FIELDAYS: Prioritising health and wellbeing
Due to increased demand the Hauora Taiwhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub has tripled in size for this year’s Fieldays! The one-stop shop for health checks includes blood pressure, blood sugar levels, hepatitis C, skin cancer and more.
Ngā manaakitanga me kei runga noa atu Go well and onwards and upwards
Brendan Chief Executive, on behalf of the Executive Council of AgriTech New Zealand
PS: Join our next Connect Event: Going green without getting in the red on 5 December in Christchurch to discuss agritech innovations and the transition to low emissions agriculture. We will have speakers from both the UK and New Zealand. This must attend event is sponsored by the UK Department of International Trade and co-hosted by Lincoln Agritech. Space is limited, so please register now.
FRESNO, Calif., and TAURANGA, NZ – Robotics Plus, a New Zealand-based agritech company, today launched its autonomous multi-use, modular vehicle platform for agriculture designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard machine tasks – to alleviate ongoing labor shortages and transform the industry.
The multi-purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) can be supervised in a fleet of vehicles by a single human operator. The vehicle uses a combination of vision systems and other technologies to sense the environment – to optimize tasks and allow intelligent and targeted application of inputs such as sprays. Growers will be able to rotate multiple tools on the highly adaptable and configurable agriculture platform, depending on the day’s work – for jobs such as spraying, weed control, mulching, mowing and crop analysis.
Robotics Plus, a specialist in the design and build of robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous machines, unveiled its demonstration vehicle at FIRA USA 2022, a California-based event dedicated to autonomous agriculture and agricultural robotics solutions for the North American market.
Steve Saunders, Co-founder and CEO of Robotics Plus, says its world-class team worked alongside growers, researchers and best-in-class technology suppliers to deliver the unique modular architecture for its multi-purpose UGV, which can operate in a range of environments.
Caption (L): Steve Saunders Co-founder and CEO of Robotics Plus Caption (R): Dr Alistair Scarfe, Co-founder and CTO of Robotics Plus
“We’ve created a flexible agricultural platform with the power to adapt to different crop types with tools for various applications, providing year-round automation benefits and maximizing machine utilization.
“To adapt and thrive in a changing world and create a sustainable and competitive future in the agricultural and speciality tree crop sector – growers and orchardists need automation that solves real-world problems, reduces reliance on increasingly costly and hard-to-find machine operators and provides data-driven insights for informed decision-making.”
Saunders says that for automation to be adopted, it must also provide a good return on investment.
“Our multi-purpose vehicle replaces tractors and other tools. But, it does much more than just replacing labor – it’s loaded with intelligence to improve efficiencies,” he says.
The first application for the technology is intelligent spraying. The system intelligently varies the flow rate to ensure spray efficacy whilst reducing inputs. Spray rates and airspeed is controlled in zones and responds as the sprayer moves along orchard or vineyard rows.
The highly manoeuvrable UGV has a small footprint and unique steering configuration, incorporating electric steering and independent motors, which increases productivity – allowing significantly more ground to be covered than machines which turn on every second row or greater, depending on row configuration. The UGV can be deployed in a range of applications in various crop types with a minimum row spacing of 1.8M/6ft.
Dr Alistair Scarfe, Co-founder and CTO of Robotics Plus, says its hybrid electric diesel UGV delivers outstanding performance in the field.
“Electric drive motors give superior torque and control, whilst a Tier 4 diesel generator means the vehicle can operate for extended periods. Fuel consumption is minimized by electrically driving all systems, including tools. Regenerative braking and high-capacity batteries also extend efficiency and range.
“In addition, the vehicle’s lightweight design and intelligent all-wheel-drive system, with independent wheel motors to ensure grip and control – while significantly reducing ground compaction to protect the soil,” he says.
The vehicle has been designed from the ground up to be modular and easy to service. With no hydraulic, gearbox or differential fluids to be managed, operators can easily keep their vehicles running if a part fails by simply swapping out modules when needed. All of this is designed to reduce downtime and complexity for growers.
Robotics Plus has partnered with best-in-class technology suppliers, including Yamaha Motor Company, Autonomous Solutions Inc., and Croplands, to significantly increase the robustness and support for the product in a demanding environment such as agriculture.
Caption: Robotics Plus’ multi-use, modular platform Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) automates tree and vine crop tasks for orchards and vineyards
Saunders says by taking a partnership approach, Robotics Plus has created a best-in-class platform for the agriculture industry.
“We’ve benefited from our partner’s deep knowledge and access to high-quality technology components. In addition, growers can deploy Quantum sprayers with configurations adaptable to various crop types, growing formats, and heights.”
Robotics Plus has developed multiple autonomous systems for use in agriculture and automation for intelligent fruit-packing to address significant industry issues, including global labor shortages, rising costs, and yield security. In addition, its robotic automatic log scaling machines are transforming port logistics with improved safety and productivity.
Robotics Plus’ fast-growing team developed the modular platform UGV at its Tauranga base, with extensive testing in New Zealand and the US in various environments and applications. Robotics Plus investors include Yamaha Motor Company and New Zealand’s ACC Impact Fund.
Robotics Plus’ new autonomous modular vehicle is available for pre-order. For more information, see https://www.roboticsplus.co.nz/
Industry leader and AgriTechNZ member Robotics Plus were in the news recently when they launched their multi-use modular autonomous vehicle at FIRA USA 2022. We celebrate their ‘global from day one’ approach and look forward to further growth of the company and New Zealand agritech’s global impact.
We are working with Rezare Systems and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on a project to align the way we describe and identify data elements. This will help our ecosystem participate in a range of industry initiatives without ‘reinventing the wheel’ each time.
We are preparing a submission to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the MPI on the Government’s proposal to price agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Aotearoa New Zealand from 2025. We believe the good use of digital tools and the inclusion of agritech service providers and their partners can address many of the issues raised by stakeholders in these discussions. If you’d like to express an opinion or join the conversation, please get in touch.
Join us for our Solutions for Successful Digital Adoption event on Thursday 1 December beside the Pavillion. Following our panel discussion, during lunch, you’ll be able to meet the international community attending Fieldays, generously sponsored by the UK Department of International Trade.
If you’re a Member and exhibiting at Fieldays, please let us know! We’d love to visit and promote your presence through our social channels. Please update us on where you’ll be and we’ll swing by to say hello.
CIEL is the centre for innovation excellence in livestock.
These centres for agricultural innovation are a collaborative model between industry and government. The aim is to help the UK commericalise innovation, encourage inward investment and improve farming practice.
During the last fortnight, I’ve met with key people from each of these groups and continue to deepen our network of networks for agritech innovators. Many New Zealand companies are already establishing a position in the UK and benefiting from access to the significant resources of these groups.
What I have found most interesting in the UK, is the relatively high level of technology capability, but low level of domestic technology adoption. Within that dynamic lies great opportunity for collaboration between the UK and New Zealand agritech innovators both of whom work in different domestic environments and have shared global aspirations.
During my visit, local commentators described the factors contributing towards a ‘decade of disruption’. In addition to the global challenge of food production in a climate crisis and the food system impacts from the war in Ukraine, UK farmers are also facing the phase out of a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Until recently, this has subsidised their operations based on the area they farm. This is being replaced with supports for three areas of policy impact (productivity, environmental outcomes and landscape/air/water quality) but at lower levels than the BPS.
Interestingly, the devolution of agricultural policy to each country in the UK will see a divergence in how support is applied;.
England will focus on public good – improving landscape, air and water quality improvements
Scotland will focus on reduced emissions from agriculture
Wales will focus on public good, with an agriculture focus
Northern Ireland focus on sustainable productivity improvements
This is a notable period of change in the UK. Approximately 40 percent of farmers have only been profitable with the BPS and a further 15 percent who are not profitable even with the BPS. Farmers will require significant adjustments to their practices. Like many other countries, they will be searching for the optimal sweet spot combining productivity and environmental improvements. Both will require a new suite of tools and capabilities.
Earlier this year, the New Zealand Agritech Industry Transformation Plan (AITP) supported an Agritech Story campaign in the Farmers Guardian. I was delighted to receive positive feedback during several meetings in the UK and Ireland about how it struck a chord in the market. Later this year, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the AITP team will collaborate again on another campaign. Yes, the primary audience is UK farmers, but it’s worth noting the whole ecosystem pays attention and the potential for technology collaborations is significant.
Certainly, local details may differ, but the common challenges of farming in a climate crisis are shared. This is truly the age of agritech as farmers and growers seek innovations necessary to navigate disruption. It’s also true that neither the UK nor New Zealand can justify substantial investments in agritech developments without taking those solutions to international markets.
The connections strengthened on this visit will continue to be nurtured when the UK Department of International Trade (UK DIT) visit New Zealand with a cohort of UK agritech innovators for Fieldays 2022..
We look forward to continuing to develop and collaborate on successful projects with all our UK partners.
And for our Members, we will continue to provide opportunities to connect, promote and advance our ecosystem. This type of engagement is just one example supporting our goal to connect our Members and participate in opportunities for economic growth.
A smart ecosystem thrives on collaboration across interconnected interests, effectively functioning as a unit. In New Zealand, our innovators, agribusinesses, researchers, investors, regulators, farmers and growers are easily connected. Less easy, but vital if we are to realise our global impact, is to find common ground on shared problems. For example, equitable food production in a climate crisis. We need to develop our collaborative fitness and shine our light out in the world.
This starts with strengthening our core and improving our use of innovative solutions locally. It includes building our international connections and promoting our capabilities globally. This month we’re highlighting the progress and opportunities for digital agriculture in New Zealand and connecting with global agritech interests at the World Agritech Innovation Summit.
2022 Baseline of Digital Adoption in Primary Industries
This new research report helps us understand the realities of digital adoption across New Zealand. It provides powerful insights to on-farm utilisation of digital agricultural practices and the strategies to enable increased benefit from the technologies. In case you missed it, the report is available to download for free. On 19 October, we will also host a members-only webinar to explore the meaning and implications of this research. We will also be seeking input on next steps for this work.
Backed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Digital Boost is an online platform designed to digitally upskill businesses across New Zealand, for free. Recognising that agriculture is at the heart of New Zealand’s economy, AgriTechNZ collaborated in the creation of Digital Boost for Ag, a series of videos directly related to on-farm technology solutions. The series highlights farmers and growers from Auckland to Southland to help their peers get the best advice on digital tools and what farmers should think about when making technology decisions. Watch my intro video on the importance of agritech here.
Next week I’m travelling to London to fly the flag and deepen connections with the world’s agritech community. With over 800 top level agri-food professionals in attendance over two days, we’ll be meeting existing partners and developing valuable new connections. We’ll keep you updated!
Creating regional impact for a global crisis: Oceania 2025
We’re just one month away from the 2035 Oceania Summit in Auckland. If you haven’t already secured your ticket, now is the time. If you’re an AgriTechNZ member, please contact us for your discount code.
The final entry date for our sector’s premier innovation awards is 6 October. There is no better platform to celebrate innovation in our sector, with all the participants in our primary industries watching. If an innovation launches but no one sees it, did it really happen? Make sure your innovation is celebrated and enter the awards today.
We’ll be joining KiwiNet to honour Aotearoa’s research commercialisation heroes and their entrepreneurial spirit on 6 October. There are still some tickets left if you would like to join.
Congratulations to Hectre – Orchard Management Software who was named best Overall Post Harvest Company of the Year at the AgTech Breakthrough Awards. The award recognises the best companies, products and services in the agritech sector and it’s the second time they have won this award which is a wonderful achievement.
The latest AgritechNZ report just released today creates a baseline of digital adoption across the primary sector to better understand the motivations, pressures and barriers faced by farmers and growers in adopting new tools, AgritechNZ chief executive Brendan O’Connell says.
The research was designed to provide actionable insight for agritech businesses, industry groups and public agencies who seek to unleash the potential of digital agriculture and develop strategies to support farmers and growers.
“There is a deep richness in the findings and attitudes to digital adoption. A total of 59 percent of the surveyed population lean towards the adoption of digital technologies,” O’Connell says.
“But this is for very different reasons and with different pathways to participation depending on the mix of motivations, pressures, and barriers.
“A total of 41 percent of respondents sided with not seeing much value in using digital technology to run their business.
“This is a high proportion, though not unexpected considering knowledge levels are low, and the value of data sharing is still to be unlocked.
“While there is a healthy population of trailblazers across all sub-sectors and age groups, on the whole, the willingness to adopt early is lower than outside the primary sector.
“Proudly traditionalist farmers and growers are reluctant to change what has worked for their land for many years.
“They may accept technology in the office or will tap into the expertise of contractors for specific jobs, the key though is that someone else is doing it.
“With regards to data sharing, 64 percent of farmers and growers have confidence in the custodians of their data and 77 percent are happy to share data where the data provides direct benefits to them.
“This is a seemingly positive result but is balanced by data that shows only half of farmers and growers are data sharing.”
The biggest barriers to data sharing revealed by the survey included that farmers and growers did not believe their data would have value to anyone else.
There is a low recognition of the value in the data held on farm and a difficulty in unlocking the value of shared data. There is also a lack of clarity around who would want the information and why.
This is what can lead to confusion, mistrust and fear. Confidence comes from knowing who is using it and for what,” O’Connell says.
“Adoption on use of digital technology is highest in farm business management, such as accounts, payroll and health and safety solutions.
“This may be the entry point for digital technology on farms, with many tools having been around for a long time.
“Across the primary sector, the lower adoption areas are water, irrigation management, plant and crop management and effluent management.
“However, those with a higher need for precision in these areas are showing higher adoption rates. Operational areas with lower current adoption levels are also the areas with lower intended investment levels over the next two years.
“Tracking data over future survey points will provide valuable insights into how technology spend plans change with land use changes, policy changes and as the agritech market develops.”
The report was created as part of a study by AgriTechNZ and insights partner Research First, supported by Zespri, DairyNZ, FAR, the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
For further information contact Brendan O’Connell on 021 369740 or NZTech’s media specialist, Make Lemonade editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188
Acknowledging agritech excellence We were delighted to relaunch the Robin Davidson Memorial Award for Agritech Excellence at a recent event in Hamilton. Congratulations to Andrew Cooke from Rezare Systems for being the worthy recipient for 2022.
Showcasing agritech innovations on a global platform Fieldays Innovation Awards are open and deliver a global platform for agritech innovators to showcase their innovation. Fieldays draws attention from around the globe and success at the awards has been a milestone achievement for many agritech businesses, especially over time as as they often progress through the categories.
Connecting early-stage agritech businesses in NZ and Israel The Israeli Embassy in New Zealand is inviting early stage agritech businesses to consider building enduring commercial partnerships with like-minded Israeli businesses so both partners can deliver products and services to discerning world markets. AgSorted are coordinating a three month project from September to November 2022.
Sharing ideas on data in the agrifood supply chain The team at Rezare/Map of Ag are hosting their Pure Farming webinar series covering the importance of data in the agrifood supply chain. The series has sessions for developers, farmers and agrifood organisations.
Creating regional impact for a global crisis We’re looking forward to engaging with our Australian and Pacific region peers and visitors at the 2035 Oceania Summit in Auckland. The October summit is hosting leaders of science, agritech, agrifood, agribusiness, farming and regulation. The list of attendees is growing rapidly and it is surely an event not to be missed.
Agritech sector vital to New Zealand’s economic growth
Earlier this month, the Technology Investment Network’s (TIN) 2022 Agritech Insights Report was launched. This year’s report continues to highlight the growth of the sector, featuring greater levels of collaboration enabling even higher growth rates in the coming years.
Earlier this month, the Technology Investment Network’s (TIN) 2022 Agritech Insights Report was launched. This year’s report continues to highlight the growth of the sector, featuring greater levels of collaboration enabling even higher growth rates in the coming years.
Join NZ Story’s next webinar on Australian perceptions
Would you like to know more about Australian perceptions of New Zealand in 2022? This research will help businesses and exporters understand how they can tailor their stories for our closest trading partner. Join NZ Story’s David Downs and One Picture’s Alex Jones on 27 July to learn more.
Agritech mission to the UK and Ireland in September
Callaghan Innovation, in partnership with AgriTechNZ, is leading a Market Immersion mission to the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland for UK Dairy Day and the 2022 Irish National Ploughing Championships, 11 September to 23 September 2022. The mission is for 25 people from mid-to-late stage startups, mature businesses, and researchers. Participants will gain a deep insight into the UK and Ireland’s agri industries, research, innovation systems and channel partners. The mission also offers New Zealand companies and agencies the opportunity to showcase their abilities and technologies in a global setting.
Join the 2035 Oceania Summit in Auckland this October. We’re looking forward to engaging with our Australian peers and visitors at this event. The summit is hosting leaders of science, agritech, agrifood, agribusiness, farming and regulation. . We have secured a discount code for members of AgriTechNZ which will provide a further $100 off the early bird price (valid until 8 August). To claim your code, please contact us here.
Our sector partners at Sprout Agritech are growing their team and continuing to share key learnings from working with our sector innovators. We love the work they do emphasising the need to nurture good teams, and focus on the human needs of mental health and wellbeing. Sprout is currently recruiting for new herd members, check out the available roles here.
Join B.linc Workshop on 16 August at Lincoln University and hear from Plant & Food Research’s Gavin Ross as he shares their vision, strategy, projects and how you can be involved.
Interested in new proposed R&D funding schemes, but missed our webinar?
Recently we hosted a webinar to learn more about the Government’s two new research and development (R&D) grants to boost business innovation. The grants aim to help with the high costs and steep learning curves associated with R&D. They will also provide pathways to the existing R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI).
If, in recent months, you’ve enjoyed reading our inspiring agritech stories, I’m pleased to say we have more to share. In our latest Powered by Place storytelling feature we talk to local innovators about their growth journeys. We feature three Kiwi entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated very different growth strategies to thrive on the global stage.
CropX’s Bridgit Hawkins didn’t purposely set out to start a company! She grew up on a sheep and beef farm outside Taupo and qualified with an agricultural science degree. While working in business development roles in the primary sector, she was frustrated at the disconnect between research and development, and what farmers were doing.
Once Bridgit partnered with Massey University to develop sensor technology she soon realised having a great product and good customers in New Zealand wasn’t enough.
“We got to the point where it was difficult to grow organically at the rate we needed… we realised that we could ruin ourselves and the company by trying to go global,” explains CropX’s Bridgit Hawkins who decided to look for a strategic partner. Read more.
Acquire and conquer!
SnapIT is another New Zealand company with huge ambitions. The company has come a long way from Dave Rodley’s garage where his sons Chris and Andrew first tinkered with webcams. Soon, their high definition cameras caught the attention of tourism operators, the MetService, TV3 weather and construction sites. But it was Chris who stumbled across an opportunity that changed the direction of the company.
“I was up a ladder installing a camera when the CEO of one of the largest fishing companies in New Zealand walked past and said, ‘Can you put that camera on a boat?’” says Chris.
Soon they were in discussions with Callaghan Innovation to develop a marine-proof, AI enabled camera and within ten days they had pitched to ten companies and haven’t looked back since! Read more.
Joining the dots
Gallagher is one of New Zealand’s largest and most successful agritech companies, founded in 1938 to commercialise the world’s first electric fence.
Since then, the Hamilton-based company has been helping farmers harness the power of hardware, software and more recently data, to make their jobs more efficient.
“I come from Belgium, another small country and I’m impressed by how close a lot of people in the New Zealand agritech sector are to the land because they grew up on a farm. There’s an incredible amount of innovation in New Zealand. What we lack sometimes is the inability to work together. That’s what we’re looking to do at Gallagher,” Lisbeth Jacobs, Global General Manager Animal Management, Gallagher. Read more.
We’d love to hear your stories!
Is connection to the land important to you? What does ‘place’ mean to you and your business? It might be where you grew up, where your business is based, or the unique characteristics of the region you live in.
We’d love to hear your stories to help inspire other Kiwi agritech entrepreneurs. Please contact us.
Technology Investment Network (TIN) is a private company established in 1999 to facilitate the growth of the technology export sector in New Zealand. The company’s goal is to contribute to the New Zealand economy by supporting the growth of, large, sustainable, New Zealand based, global technology businesses.
THE NEW ZEALAND AGRITECH INSIGHTS REPORT IS SPONSORED BY:
Telling our stories : The Future of Farming is Here! In our latest Powered by Place story, we highlight some of the Kiwi agritech innovators who are addressing global challenges in food systems not so common locally, but significant in feeding the world. They are great champions and excellent examples of the global impact of New Zealand agritech. Read more
TIN Agritech Insights Report Launch The Technology Investment Network’s (TIN) 2022 Agritech Insights Report is launched soon. This year’s report continues to highlight the growth of the sector. It also features the growing levels of collaboration that will enable even higher growth rates in the coming years. In 2021, the largest 22 agritech companies had a revenue growth of eight percent and export growth of 6.4 percent. Companies with revenues over $200 million grew at a rate of 7.7 percent, while companies with revenues of up to $50 million grew remarkably at approximately 30 percent. Register to attend the launch on 30 June in Hamilton. Read more
Fit for a Better World progress update Fit for a Better World is a programme of work towards 2030 committed to meeting some of the greatest challenges faced today. New Zealand’s food and fibre sector presents many powerful possibilities. In this progress update, the role and potential of agritech is highlighted. Together, we can move towards a more productive, sustainable and inclusive economy while making a positive global impact. Read here
Regional impact for a global crisis Join the 2035 Oceania Summit in Auckland this October. The summit brings together leaders of science, agritech, agrifood, agribusiness, farming and regulation to discuss how agrifood tech innovations and on-farm application can help address the existential threat posed by climate change. We’re looking forward to engaging with our Australian peers and visitors at this event. We encourage you to join and have secured a discount code for members of AgriTechNZ which will provide a further $100 off the early bird price (valid until 8 August). To claim your code, contact us here Read more
Celebrating our agritech exporters Applications for the New Zealand International Business Awards 2022 close on 4 July and winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 27 October. Bluelab flew the flag for the sector last year, who will it be this year… Read more
Innovation Grants Programme Last month, Minister Woods announced the introduction of two new grants covering non-R&D innovation tasks and supporting businesses that are new to R&D. The grants aim to assist with the high costs and steep learning curves associated with R&D. Applications are due to open in September 2022. Learn more or provide feedback into their design on Tuesday 28 June at 9am online. Register now
Voting is open We are strongly encouraged by the level of engagement across our community with 17 nominations for the three open seats on the Executive Council. Voting closes at 5pm on 21 June, so members should ensure their primary membership contact person casts a vote (only one person from each member organisation can vote, and they will have already received voting details). You can read more about the nominees here and check who the primary membership contact is for your organisation by contacting us. Read more
AgriTechNZ 2022 Annual Meeting Remember to register for our Annual Meeting on 5 July, to hear the results of the Council election and updates on our activities and plans. Register here
Ngā manaakitanga me kei runga noa atu Go well and onwards and upwards
Brendan Chief Executive on behalf of he Executive Council of AgriTech New Zealand
I believe the crucial ingredient to success in our sector is collaboration. AgriTechNZ has shown itself to be a leader in this, creating connections and fostering a growing ecosystem within NZ and increasingly connecting that with the booming global agritech scene. I would be honoured to have the opportunity to directly support and influence that work as a member of the Executive Council. Currently I am CEO of Agrigate, a wholly owned subsidiary of LIC, where I lead a team developing apps and APIs that empower farmers by making it easy for them to connect and share data about their farms with the people and systems that need to know.
I’m no stranger to farming having grown up on a sheep, beef & deer farm in the King Country where I still relish a weekend on the tractor cutting silage or helping dad draft lambs. Career wise I started out studying law, eventually completing a Masters degree where my thesis focused on emissions trading and agriculture. Environmental issues remain a big driver for me today; but having been introduced to the transformative power of technology while working at Fonterra I’m now more convinced that it’s technology not legal arguments that will solve problems and realise opportunities along our agricultural value chains – both on farm and on the plates of our customers. If successful I would draw strongly on my experience and networks to ensure AgriTechNZ continues to build an ecosystem of agritech innovators here in Aotearoa that can have a transformative impact globally.
For 15 years I’ve been working to assist NZ businesses to gain advantage through the use of technology. I’ve worked in a range of industry verticals & been fortunate enough to hold senior technology management positions in a number of organisations. My executive career has helped me gain a pragmatic and execution focussed approach to engaging stakeholders, making sure all views are heard in collaboration and furthering the mission of the entities I’ve worked with through strategic direction and partnership.
I believe AgriTech to be NZ’s next biggest export to the world. We have such an awesome community of innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs and creatives and we lead the world in our AgriTech solutions. If lucky enough to serve on the AgriTechNZ Executive Council I will work tirelessly to further the mission of AgriTechNZ driving stakeholder collaboration, leveraging my relevant networks & breaking down silos, engaging & leading digital strategy, promoting industry-wide initiatives and AgriTechNZ’s purpose, ensuring we have a data led approach to ensuring our work is getting the right outcome for member organisations.
For the last 25 years I have worked in the agricultural industry bringing innovation into traditional agriculture to help the industry make some quantum shifts in productivity. With the introduction of technology, I have grown a number, of small start-up agricultural companies into substantial globally recognised businesses. Using innovation to create value added products and transitioning businesses from selling products to solutions has been key to the success. In my current position of Global Strategy and New Ventures Manager at Gallagher Animal Management I am introducing open innovation and digital technologies to help our customers solve some the largest challenges they are facing. When not at work I am a ‘hands on’ farmer on our hill country sheep and beef property on north side of the Raglan Harbour. This ‘grass roots’ farming experience enables me to clearly understand the problems farmers are trying to solve.
My passion for revolutionising the agriculture sector and a desire to help forge closer collaboration and nurture talent within the agritech ecosystem are the drivers behind my nomination for the AgriTechNZ Executive Council. I believe my substantial networks in the global agritech ecosystem, ability to form collaborations, exploit opportunities and find innovative solutions to the challenges the industry faces are what I can bring to the Executive Council.
I’m a sales and business management professional with 20+ years of experience. Working within Microsoft and leading the Agri sector has given me a deep understanding and appreciation of the challenges and opportunities faced by the New Zealand Agri Sector. I have a passion for the Agri Industry and making positive change and connecting Agriculture and Technology to strengthen NZ’s Primary Sector. I have led effective teams to deliver business outcomes, driven adoption of technology to enable business success, measured business success and led improvement initiatives with a strong focus on Sustainability for Agribusiness which is to accelerate our journey to a better future.
My work with Microsoft teams such as working with FarmLands, Silver Fern Farms, Zespri and LIC, deeply embedded into the agri-sector in New Zealand. I have worked on projects big and small to ensure that organisations are getting optimal results from their data. New Zealand is an innovative nation and having worked closely with some of the smartest and most agile Saas organisation and partners. This includes the impressive work of Pamu(opens in a new window) and Vodafone Teams Connect solution which in COVID times was able to create a nation of connected farmers coordinating 114 farms. And also Fusion5’s solutions with Primary(opens in a new window) ITO. From winegrowing to beekeeping, milking to horse-breeding, Primary ITO supports learners across the entire people, food and fibre sector, Fusion5 (opens in a new window)accelerated their transformation their outdated system into a modern tech platform. This means I have a strong grasp of what modern agritech customers need and require to thrive and something I would like to serve as being part of the Executive Council team. I look forward to serving on the AgritechNZ Council and being part of an amazing team.
I founded and lead BNZ’s scaling Technology Industries portfolio of software, software-enabled, high-tech manufacturing, high-tech infrastructure and biotechnology businesses which numbers over 1500 clients and proposition delivered through a network of over 35 tech focussed bankers across New Zealand, with recent additions to the capital part of BNZ’s proposition (Capital, Connections, Capability at all stages of tech business’ lifecycles) being Revenue Based Financing and Project Scale Up. I have been with BNZ for almost 8 years in frontline, leadership and strategy roles (all building BNZ’s technology industries offering), following an early career in securities law. I’m a qualified barrister and solicitor, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and hold a Masters of Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship, along with degrees in law, finance and economics.
I would bring a strong understanding of technology business models, the technology industries, financing, banking and a wide lens across both agritech and non-agritech tech businesses across the New Zealand economy to AgriTechNZ. I am keen to join the AgriTechNZ Executive Council both to learn and to help shape (from an informed vantage point) and grow New Zealand’s agritech market and opportunity. New Zealand has a strong heritage in Agriculture and a technology industry that is going from strength to strength – AgriTech is a clear opportunity in relation to which NZ could lead the world, but, from observations during 8 years in the technology industries at BNZ, is an opportunity yet to be (fully) realised.
I am a technology leader with a strong focus on product delivery. My career of over 20 years in technology has brought me to FarmIQ where I am passionate about solving problems for farmers through technology. If elected I will bring my experience from many domains, from large corporates to start ups, across many roles from product management, agile consultancy, to executive leadership. Only having been in the Agritech sector for just over 3 years I believe I will bring fresh perspectives and new voice to the council. I will also bring the passion I have for making NZ Inc and AgriTechNZ successful, not just in NZ, but on the world stage.
Collaboration across NZ Agritech and the primary industries is the only way that NZ and its agricultural communities are going to lean in to, meet, and exceed the increasing regulation and environmental commitments. There is already a large among of activity across the industry looking to introduce rules, regulation, compliance, and if we work more closely together, we can achieve so much more in proving NZ Farming is already highly sustainable and environmentally focused. As a nation we are intrinsically linked to our whenua, we can be world leaders in demonstrating what it means to be responsible stewards of the land while delivering world leading primary industry products. I want to be part of that collaboration, and I want to be part of organisations that bring Agritech closer together.
I have spent my professional career working at the interface of new product introduction and scientific research, with the focus on delivering economic and societal impact. It started with the realisation that I wanted to work on varied and impactful science, and that better suited me to R&D in the exploding telecoms market than a career in academic research. With the telecoms bubble bursting, a new door opened in what is now called the Triple Helix space – where companies, Government, and research collaborate to create new opportunities. It is the years spent in this space, first as a technologist then as a manager and a leader, that has given me direct experience of many models and activities across Europe – and led to the agritech sector here in New Zealand. Supporting companies to create success through access to relevant and exploitable science outcomes and capabilities is what gets me going in the morning.
AgritechNZ is a great power for good. I am a huge supporter of what it has achieved both domestically and internationally, and firmly believe that it has a key role to play in supporting the transformation of our sector in the face of the climate catastrophe and technological change that will never again be as slow as it is today. I want to contribute my experience, gained internationally, to support AgritechNZ in supporting its members to flourish. I will be an advocate for support of innovation and risk taking within the sector and with Government, to ensure they provide the support that will make the most difference. I believe the Research Science and Innovation green paper consultation is a critical opportunity for us to leverage for positive change, and I would relish the opportunity to put my effort behind AgritechNZ as we navigate this process.
I am one of the founders and Managing Director of Rezare Systems (now part of the Map of Agriculture Group). My background is in agricultural research, livestock recording, and data interoperability. Many of you will know me from our collaborative work in defining open specifications for data interoperability in the agricultural sector. My work takes me across agricultural technology in New Zealand, Australia, and internationally. I try to be very collaborative and enjoy introducing people and businesses to each other, looking for ways to help sector businesses be successful and contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the farming and growing sector.
I intend to bring that experience to the AgriTechNZ Executive Council: supporting the AgriTechNZ members who engage with me to share and represent their views, and bringing my experience in agricultural tech, adoption, and data challenges to AgriTech New Zealand’s projects and strategy.
I am the Managing Director of Soter, a provider of Farm Environmental Plans including Greenhouse Gas advice and resource consents. I have sat with farmers for nearly a decade, learning how they manage data and navigate the compliance burden. With my experience managing data warehouse projects I have combined my farming and data geekdoms to create software to automate much of the process for them.
I can bring to the AgriTech board a background in project and data management, and day to day on farm learning to inform advice to Government and the organisation with real-world, real-time experience. I hold a Bachelor of Business Studies, Post Grad Dip in Resource and Environmental Planning, the Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management Certificate with Agricultural Greenhouse Gas endorsement. I am an HBRC, BOPRC and WRC Approved provider of FEMPs, Dairy NZ approved provider of Sustainable Milk Plans and I have facilitated workshops for the HBRC, HB Fruit Growers, Beef and Lamb NZ and the Deer Industry. I have worked on horticulture and dairy farms, and until recently owned a sheep, beef and cropping farm in Central Hawkes Bay.
I have been passionate about agritech for so long, the term agritech didn’t exist. I spent over a decade at a CRI developing disease forecasting and decision support systems for the kiwifruit and wine sectors, and preaching the potential of data and technology to anyone and everyone. During a comparatively brief stint at a data consultancy, I became the science advisor for Cropsy, an agritech start-up working in the wine sector. I have since confirmed to myself that agritech is where I want to be and have taken on a permanent role at Cropsy managing the research and innovation programmes.
My mix of biology, data science, and strategy roles over the years would be a huge benefit to the AgriTechNZ Executive Council as I can understand the problems both the agritech and agricultural sectors face from a number of perspectives. The key perspective I am missing is that of the grower, but as a huge proponent of human-led design, co-innovation, and simply talking to people, I see this as an opportunity. I am looking forward to working closely with growers to understand their perspectives and ensuring their needs are baked into agritech solutions from day one to start shifting the dial from technology push to solution pull.
The main purpose of AgriTechNZ is to create an environment in which its members can thrive, achieving their own business goals while also delivering value to farmers and growers and others in the food and fibre value chains. Creating that environment means building relationships with Government Ministers, Directors General, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Levy Bodies, Banks and Fund Managers, Iwi Leaders, Universities and CRIs, and with sister agritech organisations in key overseas markets – and then based on those relationships; developing and implementing policies and projects that improve AgriTechNZ’s members’ access to capital, talent and customers. As the SME representative and also as AgritechNZ Chair over this past two-year term, with the ITP and many other strategic initiatives, I’ve built these relationships, helping the Executive Council, our CEO and members create a vibrant, respected, growing agritech sector, delivering value through better data standards, improved interoperability, and increased farmer appetite for digital adoption.
While we have many tangible results to celebrate as evidenced by growth across our SME sector of an impressive 30%, and growing membership with high retention rates, there remains much more to gain across all member categories, but especially for the SME and Start-Up category. So I invite and appreciate your support for a second of two permitted terms, so we can capitalise on the hard-won relationships built. With significant NZ Government support as evidenced in the recent budget announcements of $339M Climate Action Fund, $200M Regional Innovation Fund and $100M Business Growth Fund, we can not only accelerate our members’ NZ growth rates, but also achieve more in offshore markets too. We have a strong relationship with Agritech Australia who share our appetite to achieve more by presenting a combined voice to world markets, and untapped opportunities with key countries including Ireland, Israel, UK and more.
I am the founder of GPS-it, a specialist mapping company that has been in business for 20+ years. As an early innovator in the agritech space, I’m passionate about agritech and always looking for opportunities to be involved in growing and telling the NZ Agritech Story to the world. I’ve spent many years travelling overseas to look at emerging technology and how it can be applied or, in some cases, how it could be done better!.. and firmly believe there is a significant opportunity for NZ agritech businesses that has yet to be unlocked.
I have a strong governance background as a chartered member of the Institute of Directors, with strengths in strategy and technology, which I will bring to the Executive Council. I hold several directorships across a range of Agri-focused businesses, I grew up on a dairy farm and I am a kiwifruit grower, so I have a unique insight into a range of challenges and opportunities across the primary and tech sectors.
I am interested in serving on the AgriTechNZ Executive Council because of the great work they do, but also the exciting opportunity I see for New Zealand in this space. An industry full of passion and commitment and deeply seeded in the psyche (and GDP) of New Zealanders, it’s what we (as a Canadian now New Zealander) are made of. I have come from a very non tech background and have made the full leap to technology. I’m emboldened and excited for what these powerful tools can bring to the sector. More than that I’m excited by the people who are creating and using the tools more than anything, because they are just tools after all and it’s up to us how we decide to use them and for what purpose.
A bit about my background, I grew up rurally on a small farm and like many small farms in North America we were always trying to make it commercially viable. I then went on to build a variety of businesses from marketing of farm products to not for profit food businesses to agriculture tourism and even agriculture education programs. I have experience in every business model across the supply chain, from growing through to end consumer retail. I am the CEO and Co-Founder of Webtools Agritech here in New Zealand, serve on the NZTech board and am actively involved in mentoring young tech entrepreneurs around Christchurch’s eco system. I bring a slightly different lens to the conversation having come from Waterloo Ontario Canada, where tech boomed during the Blackberry era and we saw the merging of agriculture and tech at that time due to the proximity of agriculture to the city. Ultimately, I came to New Zealand out of my love of rugby and agriculture. I hope I can be a contribution to the sector that has given me so much and create opportunities for New Zealand and New Zealanders.
I have been an AgriTechNZ Council member since June 2020. I have been involved directly in the New Zealand Agritech sector for some 18 years and using technology on farm for most of my lifetime. I feel I have a good understanding of the sector, the participants and the opportunities the sector has for future growth.
The industry is being driven to adopt technologies due to efficiencies, cost and supply of labour, while also wanting to meet safety and traceability needs of our global consumers. Supported by AgriTechNZ and its members the opportunities are immense and exciting. I am happy to be re-standing for the Council, to build on the success over the past 2 years.
Kia Ora, my name is Rob Ford and I currently have a consultancy specialising in assisting businesses in the Primary sector more specifically around Agri & Food tech. The last 16 years of my career have been the most rewarding working in the Primary Sector. Firstly, I worked for LIC (Livestock Improvement) holding several General Management positions then moved to Pamu (nee Landcorp) and took up the role of GM Innovation, Environment and Technology. Post Pamu I headed to a small Software Development company based in Tauranga called Cucumber but after suffering a serious illness was forced to relinquish this role to focus on my health. Thankfully I am fully fit, recovered and now working on my consultancy.
In applying for this role on the Executive Council I believe I would bring a wide range of experiences understanding the development of products and solutions for the sector. I have been involved in initiatives such as Farm Software (MINDA & Farm IQ), to Farm Automation (Protrack & Dairy Automation Ltd), Foodtech (Sheep and Deer Milk). In all cases this has involved product development all the way through to commercialisation. I have also held governance roles for the roll out of the RBI (Rural Broadband Initiative), Farm IQ, Dairy Automation and LIC Farm Automation. I am currently a member of the Directors Institute. I would sincerely appreciate your review and support of my application on the AgriTechNZ Executive Council for the SME/Startup position.
As Sprout Operations and Partnership Manager I develop and execute New Zealand’s specialist AgriFoodTech Accelerator. Sprout’s core reason for existing is to create backable start-ups, by building capabilities and providing entrepreneurs with tools and contacts. My work is creating a strong cohort of start-ups, and building a community of corporate partners, mentors, research institutes and investors, so they can work together to turn their vision into a backable, scalable global technological solution for the food and fibre sector.
Having managed, designed, and executed events across Europe for New Zealand Winegrowers. I understand the strength of an industry collaborating to build a united brand to represent New Zealand. Through my role at Sprout, the team and I are in a unique position where we enable cross-industry collaboration. I believe building a sustainable AgriFoodTech ecosystem through collaboration will enable effective development, growth and success of New Zealand Agritech. I am excited to join the Council, and add value to the AgriTechNZ thriving and fast-growing ecosystem using my capabilities and network.
