Melbourne – Almost 100 Kiwi agritech specialists, entrepreneurs, agribusiness leaders and support agencies have joined 1000 delegates at the international EvokeAg food & farm futures conference in Melbourne this week.

Making up almost 10 percent of the attendees at this globally focused conference shows the significance for agritech for New Zealand and its future, AgritechNZ executive director Peter Wren-Hilton said from Melbourne today.

“The exciting thing for New Zealand is our alignment with addressing many of the big global challenges for feeding the world while not destroying the planet.

“The conference has also had a high presence of international investors who all noted that we have to be patient with agritech investments as new agri-technologies such as alternative proteins, on-farm robotics, vertical farming and nutrient management systems all take time to build.

“Several investors said the New Zealand agritech market is coming of age. It is a great test market for addressing global farming challenges such as nutrient management and cleaning water ways, dealing with labour shortages and producing healthier food. Yet more needs to be done to help Kiwi agritech companies go global faster.”

There is a wealth of potential solutions for global markets locked up in NZ crown research institutes (CRIs) and universities, Wren-Hilton says. Potentially, with better incentive structures and better connections with smart global capital, New Zealand can accelerate the conversion of this IP into value for the New Zealand economy.

“Among the many Kiwi attendees at the event were Kiwi agritech firms looking to raise funding. Wine Grenade, CertusBIO and Hot Lime Labs have all made the Pitch Tent Finals competing against the best in the world to raise funds by pitching to the VC firms at the conference.

“CertusBio is another great NZTech story. Their chief executive Matthew Jones this week won the pitch tent investment ready pitch competition at EvokeAg against agritech firms from around the world.

“Bringing together our globally successful agri sector with our fast-growing tech and innovation sector is opening up a global agritech investment market worth more than $US7.1 billion. New Zealand’s future can be about not only feeding 40 million people around the world, but also selling the systems that help feed 10 billion people.,” Wren-Hilton says.

AgritechNZ is helping build a world class agritech ecosystem but New Zealand needs to integrate agriculture and technology faster to strengthen its primary export sector.

As the world’s demand for food increases with its ever-growing population, New Zealand can expand its primary sector further by focusing on producing higher value produce and agri-systems for the world.

For further information contact Make Lemonade editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188

San Jose, California – Leading New Zealand tech expert Graeme Muller arrived back home from Silicon Valley today convinced New Zealand needs closer tech ties with Californian to help produce a thriving Kiwi economy.

Muller, chief executive of NZTech, was part of a large New Zealand contingent which has been engaging with leading US agribusinesses and Silicon Valley tech firms to learn about US agritech opportunities.

The United States has played a big role in trailblazing technology such as giant online retailers, social media apps and the growth of the cloud, Muller says.

“We all know that Silicon Valley is the leading technology hotspot in the world, so it was exciting and historic that Agritech New Zealand signed two landmark agreements while in the Valley.

“One with the giant of fresh produce, Western Growers, whose members provide more than half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. The other with Farm 2050, a collective of the global leading agri-venture firms and agribusinesses focused on accelerating innovation in the agritech sector.

“These partnerships will substantially speed up growth of agritech in New Zealand and will open the doors for New Zealand agritech companies to enter the US market, to access agri investors and for US agritech startups to access the New Zealand market.

“In California the farmers and producers have very similar challenges to Kiwi farmers and producers, so this agreement presents an enormous opportunity for the New Zealand tech and agricultural sectors.

“Agritech New Zealand and other stakeholders across the New Zealand agri community are working hard together to build a world class agritech ecosystem but New Zealand needs to accelerate the integration of agriculture and technology to strengthen its primary export sector.

“As the world’s demand for food increases with its ever-growing population, New Zealand can expand its primary sector further by being more productive and by focusing on producing higher value produce for the world.

“Combining two of New Zealand’s leading sectors, agriculture and technology, shows just how we can improve New Zealand farming, food production and health while also growing our exports. We are on the cusp of some massive and exciting tech changes in our lives.”

Muller says New Zealand is achieving good agritech export growth rates relative to many nations, with an estimated $1.3 billion agritech exported in 2017. Global agritech investment is also expanding rapidly, with venture capital investment in agritech firms in 2017 reaching US$1.7 billion and looking to exceed US$2 billion this year.

The New Zealand tech sector is the country’s third largest and fastest growing export sector, worth over $6.3 billion in 2016 and employing more than six percent of the New Zealand workforce.

For further information contact Make Lemonade media specialist Kip Brook on 0275 030188

Graeme Muller

Salinas, California – Agritech New Zealand has forged a partnership with a major American company to speed up growth of agritech in New Zealand.

The partnership with Western Growers will strengthen and accelerate the development of agritech markets in both countries, Agritech NZ executive director Peter Wren-Hilton said from Salinas, California, today.

Hank Giclas, Western Growers’ senior vice president, strategic planning, science and technology said there were a myriad of issues severely impacting agriculture and the production of food globally.

“Building a two-way bridge for agricultural technology will result in international collaboration where we can create, transfer and share knowledge and experiences about new technologies that can help solve the industry’s most pressing issues.”

The agreement establishes a business relationship focused on providing in-market support for agritech companies in New Zealand.

It also opens doors for New Zealand agritech companies to enter the US market via the Western Growers Centre for Innovation & Technology in California, and for US based agritech startups to access the New Zealand market.

Wren-Hilton says connecting New Zealand’s agriculture innovation ecosystems will benefit innovators, growers, investors, regulators, researchers and public stakeholders not only in both countries, but around the globe.

“We are excited to embark on this new partnership to foster economic growth in the US and New Zealand through international connections and missions.”

Western Growers provide a co-working space that offers agritech start-up companies access to training and mentorship; monthly seminars; regularly scheduled events; and exclusive events with Western Group members such as specialty crop farmers in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.

As part of the deal, the community that Agritech NZ serves will now have access to Western Growers offerings.

The American company will work with Agritech NZ to evaluate opportunities to conduct research and development trials with potential New Zealand partners during the northern hemisphere off season.

Western Growers, founded in 1926 represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.

Their members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce.

Agritech NZ was launched earlier this year to connect agritech innovators, investors, regulators, researchers and interested public. As part of NZTech, it is helping build a world class agritech ecosystem but New Zealand needs to integrate agriculture and technology to strengthen its primary export sector.

As the world’s demand for food increases with its ever-growing population, New Zealand can expand its primary sector further by focusing on producing higher value produce for the world, Wren-Hilton says.

For further information contact Peter Wren-Hilton on 21 791120 or Make Lemonade editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188

Silicon Valley – Agritech could be destined to save the New Zealand economy, leading New Zealand tech expert Graeme Muller says.

The tremendous worldwide demand for food continues to soar with some estimating the market to be worth $US3 trillion and much of the growth coming from specialty and healthy foods, Muller, the NZTech chief executive, says.

He is one of 30 New Zealand agritech delegates attending the Silicon Valley forum agritech immersion programme this week in San Jose, California, and they are finding that New Zealand is well placed to respond to the substantial changing demands.

“There is growing evidence that the abundance of processed foods is the underlying cause of a global obesity epidemic which is also impacting New Zealand which is ranked third worst in the OECD for obesity,” Muller sais today from Silicon Valley.

“Combining two of New Zealand’s leading sectors, agriculture and technology, shows just how we can improve New Zealand farming, food production and health while also growing our exports. We are on the cusp of some massive and exciting tech changes in our lives.

“There are some amazing agritech developments in Silicon Valley such as Granular Software a farm operations startup that was recently purchased by DuPont for $US300 million, or the synthetic protein companies like Clara Foods for eggs, Memphis Meats for beef and Finless Foods for fish.

“Yet most of the major pain points in the US farm systems are similar to New Zealand such as water management, nutrient management and labour shortages so New Zealand agritech solutions are viable for this massive market.

“For example, award-winning Tauranga company Robotics Plus has an automated apple packaging system that will be able to help US growers address labour shortages.

“New Zealand is also well positioned to meet increasing demands for specialty and healthy foods. Miro berries, a Maori owned and driven company, is deploying the latest agritech in New Zealand to build high value blueberry production to replicate our success in kiwifruit and meet domestic and global demand for the superfood,” he says.

New Zealand is one of the top 10 world’s biggest blueberry producers. About 700 ha of blueberry crops are grown in New Zealand with expectations the export industry could be worth more than $100 million in coming years.

Muller says New Zealand is achieving good agritech export growth rates relative to other nations. Global agritech investment is expanding rapidly, with investment in agritech firms in 2014 was estimated at more than $US2.36 billion.

The New Zealand tech sector is the country’s third largest and fastest growing export sector, worth over $6.3 billion in 2015 and employing more than six percent of the New Zealand workforce.

For further information contact New Zealand Technology Industry Association chief executive Graeme Muller on 021 02520767 or Make Lemonade media specialist Kip Brook on 0275 030188