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Why Australia Needs AgTech Finder

Jun 28 2019

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AgTech Finder helps producers make confident decisions about agtech.

Australian farmers are tech savvy and innovative. So why aren’t they embracing digital technology at the same pace as other industries? And why is the Australian agtech sector, although growing rapidly, not keeping pace with leading agtech nations like Israel and the US?  

The answer lies in the disconnect between farmers and the technology companies creating the products. To unlock the additional $20.3bni in GVP to Australia’s agricultural industry that digital technologies could potentially bring, we need to bring them closer together. 

We need to connect farmers and agtech companies in an ecosystem designed to drive more productive and sustainable agricultural systems as well as the best possible products and services for a rapidly growing market. 

When we established Food Agility CRC less than two years ago, we started by talking to a lot of farmers and industry bodies. What we heard was a willingness to embrace technology and an understanding of the potential benefits. 

But there was also an underlying element of caution and uncertainty. We heard stories of technology that didn’t do what it said on the tin, of multiple data collections for tools that didn’t talk to each other and of buying products that weren’t right for their sector. 

There was so much great agtech out there, they said, but how could they sort the ‘wheat from the chaff’, so to speak.

How could they know what’s available and what’s right for their farm? 

And so AgTech Finder was born (www.www.agtechfinder.com). AgTech Finder is an independent site featuring more than 230 products from agtech companies large and small, established and emerging, Australian and international.   

Producers can search based on sector, then drill down to the problem they want to solve. AgTech Finder has been designed with and for producers. Product listings include pricing model, installation process, compatibility with other products, who owns the data, and more.  

And stay tuned for more features. The plan is to build AgTech Finder from this rich directory of available agtech into an online marketplace with customer reviews, case studies, service provider listings and education resources. It will be home to a wealth of information that helps Australian farmers make confident decisions about agtech. 

AgTech Finder is supported by industry leaders in agriculture, including National Farmers’ Federation, Meat and Livestock Australia, IAG and AgriFutures, with KPMG as lead partner and platform developer. Together, we represent and/or provide services to tens of thousands of Australian farmers. 

We’re doing this together because we want the Australian agrisystem to be prosperous and sustainable and because we believe passionately in the power of digital technology. 

NFF President Fiona Simson called it “the missing piece of the puzzle that will see agtech take off in Australia, delivering big benefits for farmers and technology companies alike”. 

Ultimately, AgTech Finder aims to get more Australian farmers using better agtech. That can only be a good thing for the future of the Australian agrisystem. 

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Click here to register your company and products on AgTech Finder.

Want to get in touch? Email agtechfinder@foodagility.com