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We are excited to announce the formation of our new Executive Council (EC), bringing together a dynamic team committed to driving our vision forward.

If you missed out on attending our in-person sessions we will be running a webinar on Wednesday 5 April. Register here.

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.

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.

Join the Agritech ecosystem and become a member

For latest news and events read the full newsletter here: Agritech News: On tour with the ITP

With January already behind us it’s hard to remember the holiday period. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the floods across Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and other areas.  We know events like this result in a range of emotions, practical needs, financial consequences,  ongoing challenges and we wish you well in your recovery. In the wake of the extreme weather, the Xero Assistance Programme (XAP) is offering free mental health support for all small businesses (owners, employees and families) in the affected regions.

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.

For latest news and events read the full newsletter here: Agritech News: Racing into 2023

Despite difficult trade conditions, we’ve seen impressive organic growth, acquisitions by our mature businesses, capability and knowledge growth across our research groups, and the emergence of many more startup businesses.

Perhaps even more impressively, we have noticed increasing ecosystem citizenship behaviour through collaborative approaches, collective action and social exchanges. For example, indirect actions include  supporting the development of others in our community and paying it forward. In a country that has a small, vibrant agritech market, these behaviours will help create even greater prosperity and impact from the agritech industry.

We remain committed to passionately advocating on behalf of our community and fostering collaborative practice wherever we can. During the year we hosted eight Member Connect Events, a Parliamentary Dinner and three International Virtual Summits. We also championed the continued Government partnership approach to our sector andmade two Government Submissions. This year we launched the Baseline of Digital Adoption in Primary Industries, participated in the inaugural Fieldays Digital Futures Hub, multiple Advisory Groups and commented frequently on the important topics.

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.

Preview here

How fabulous was Fieldays?

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.

Read more

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.

Register here

Evocative EvokeAg

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.

Register here

Blue economy interests

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 Hatch in partnership with NZTE.

Join the Q&A zoom session on Tuesday 20 December at 3.30pm.

Please email megan.huddleston@nzte.govt.nz with your recommendations by 22 December.  

Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia!

Brendan
Chief Executive, on behalf of the Executive Council of AgriTech New Zealand

PS: Please don’t forget! We love to share your Member news and events. If you’re doing something cool, please let us know!

Read more: AgriTechNZ News: Meri Kirihimete

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FIELDAYS: Celebrating women in agriculture

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.

Contact us 

FIELDAYS: Innovation Awards Finalists announced

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.

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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.

Contact us

FIELDAYS: All the agritech events in one place!

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. 

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FIELDAYS: Exhibiting? Come and say hi

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.

Read 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.

Read more: AgriTechNZ News: Fieldays Special Edition

Read more > 

Robotics Plus unveils it’s autonomous platform

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.

Read more > 

NZ International Business Awards

Congratulations to AgriTechNZ members Agrisea and UBCO for being chosen as finalists in the International Business Awards.

Read more >

Common language in farming data

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.

Read more > 

Emissions pricing submission

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.

Contact Us > 

Join us at Fieldays 2022

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.

Register Now >

Can we drop in and say hi?

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.

Get in Touch > 

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: We love to share member news and events. If you’re doing something cool, please let us know!

Globally, we are at one of the most important, exciting and challenging times in the history of agriculture. Strengthening the foundations of a smart agritech ecosystem in New Zealand will assure the role the world needs of us. As a small market we are limited in what we can achieve on our own, but as a smart ecosystem we can have a disproportionate impact on global food systems and climate action. 

During the last month we have made excellent progress promoting and advancing the agritech sector in and from New Zealand. We’ve published our Baseline of Digital Adoption research report and participated in the development of the Digital Boost for Ag series of videos.

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.

Register Now

Digital Boost for agriculture

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.

Learn More

World Agritech connections

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!

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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.

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Agrifoodtech mission to Israel

AgriTechNZ member AgSorted is leading the Israel New Zealand Strategic Partnerships Project for Early Stage Agri Food Tech businesses  mission to Israel. The project is designed to help NZ agri food tech businesses accelerate their international growth through strategic partnerships with well-matched Israeli partners. The mission is scheduled before and after  Israel’s AgriFoods Week in Tel Aviv 6-10 November, to optimise its success.

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Fieldays Innovation Awards

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.

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KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards

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.

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AgTech Breakthrough Awards

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.

Read More

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