On-farm inventors have come up with innovative solutions to paddock problems since the start of time, but the trick has often been how do you take these new models, technologies or business concepts to the next level?
Now, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is offering grain growers access to workshops which explore how they can take these home-grown innovations through to commercialisation.
The ‘Growers as Innovators’ workshops, to be delivered by Farmers2Founders (F2F), aims to provide advice and guidance about how to progress ‘new’ ideas and link would-be entrepreneurs with established experts.
A free workshop will be held in Emerald in Central Queensland on November 7 from 9am-2pm at the Mayfair Ridge Tavern.
The half-day workshop is open to anyone keen to learn more about innovation in agriculture or with an idea for a new product. It offers an opportunity to:
- Figure out if your idea can become a commercially viable new business opportunity through design thinking and lean start-up methodologies.
- Develop skills and tools to turn your agtech or food innovation idea into a scalable solution- fast!
- Share and hear about industry challenges, and learn about opportunities to work with tech companies to ensure solutions meet your needs.
- Meet the team of coaches behind Farmers2Founders and get feedback on your idea.
GRDC Commercialisation Manager – North, Chris Murphy said the workshops recognised the role growers often played in overcoming real, agricultural industry challenges.
“Growers have a wealth of practical knowledge and are regularly designing or developing solutions to problems they have in the paddock,” Mr Murphy said.
“The ‘Growers as Innovators’ workshops are about engaging with and supporting them to develop and potentially commercialise their ideas.”
Mr Murphy said the GRDC had partnered with F2F to support growers, who had creative solutions to improve or combat problems in the grains industry.
F2F is an innovation and entrepreneurship program tailored to agriculture. It was established by innovation specialists Sarah Nolet, of AgThentic, and Christine Pitt, of FoodFutureCo.
F2F is supported by AgriFutures, Wine Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the GRDC.
Head to Farmers2Founders
