Australian producers can search, sort and compare hundreds of available AgTech products with just a few clicks of the mouse thanks to a new digital platform, AgTech Finder (www.agtechfinder.com).
Launched today (Thursday), 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 industry, 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.
An initiative of Food Agility CRC, AgTech Finder is supported by National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), IAG, AgriFutures and KPMG.
Food Agility CEO Dr Mike Briers says the plan is to build AgTech Finder into an online marketplace with customer reviews, case studies and education resources.
“This is really stage one so stay tuned for more features. We’d love to hear from Australian producers about what else they’d like to see on the site that would help them make confident decisions about AgTech,” says Dr Briers.
NFF President Fiona Simson says the appetite for AgTech is growing among Australian farmers.
“Farmers, by their nature, are forward thinkers and we can see the future is AgTech,” says Ms Simson.
“We’ve got thousands of members across every sector, in every part of the country telling us that they want to innovate. But we need reliable, accessible and independent information we can trust.
“I think AgTech Finder is the missing piece of the puzzle that will see AgTech take off in Australia, delivering big benefits for farmers and technology companies alike.”
KPMG Agrifood Tech Sector Leader Ben van Delden agrees that digital has the potential to transform the Australian food system.
“We took on the role of lead partner and platform developer because we want the Australian agrisystem to be prosperous and sustainable and because we believe passionately in the power of digital technology,” says Mr van Delden.
“Anything that can help producers make more confident decisions is a good thing. It’s also about how we can get AgTech companies making the best possible products by showing them what farmers want when it comes to AgTech.”
