

Cyber attack shuts down global meat processing giant JBS
The world's largest meat processing company, JBS Foods, has fallen victim to cyber attacks that have shut down production around the world, including in Australia.
JBS is the biggest company in the world for beef, chicken and pork, and the significance of the attack should not be underestimated. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud confirmed the government was aware of the hack and was working to get the company nationally back online.
Get the whole story at ABC News
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Robots and artificial intelligence to guide Australia’s first fully automated farm
Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, in collaboration with the Food Agility CRC, will create the "hands-free farm" on a 1,900-hectare property to demonstrate what robots and artificial intelligence can do without workers in the paddock.
The farm will use robotic tractors, harvesters, survey equipment and drones, artificial intelligence that will handle sowing, dressing and harvesting, new sensors to measure plants, soils and animals and carbon management tools to minimise the carbon footprint.
Get the whole story at ABC News
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ACCC plants hope for machines on farms
Purchasers of agricultural machinery should benefit from more independent competition in servicing and repair markets, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said following a study of the market.
Deputy Chair of the ACCC, Mick Keogh said the Commission’s report, Agricultural machinery market study, made a number of recommendations aimed at improving competition and access for purchasers of after-sales services.
Get the whole story from PS News
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Agtech takes the guesswork out of farming
Agtech start-ups and companies know only too well that farmers have more than enough to contend with given the unpredictability of fires, droughts and floods.
So, they are quietly plotting a radical overhaul of the agricultural sector to benefit all producers.
Get the whole story at the Australian Financial Review
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Manage your on-farm activities easily with Pairtree
Pairtree co-founder Hamish Munro said the dashboard was developed to assist the close to 80 per cent of farmers who have between five to 10 digital ag or agtech solutions that they rely on every day, including weather apps, markets, industry tools, farm management apps, sensors, and more.
Get the whole story at Queensland Country Life
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InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence
Industry body InnovationAus have announced the inaugural InnovationAus Awards for Excellence, a celebration of the people and companies changing the nation.
The awards will highlight Australian excellence in non-R&D innovation, including for the food and agritech sectors, and the use of applied technology in building our industries of the future. The categories are:
Advanced Manufacturing
Cybersecurity
Food and AgriTech
MedTech and BioTechnology
Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS)
Energy and Renewables
Space and Remote Automation
Defence Industry
Translation Hero
People's Choice Award
Australian Hero Award
Get the whole story at InnovationAus.com
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Techies on tour – AgTech entrepreneurs on the road to Loxton
A busload of AgTech entrepreneurs is hitting the road this week to work directly with primary producers in the Riverland on technology gaps on-farm.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the AgTech road trip – which will be at Loxton on Friday – is a practical example of how the Marshall Liberal Government is supporting initiatives to encourage the adoption of technology.
"The AgTech Strategic Plan identified networking and collaboration as a priority, so the road trip is about connecting farmers with AgTech entrepreneurs from a range of backgrounds," Minister Basham said.
"Reports have suggested increasing the uptake of technology on-farm could return up to $2.6 billion per annum to the South Australian economy
Get the whole story from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions