Future Agro Challenge Australia 2019
Startup Tablelands - Australian Host
Congratulations to BioScout on taking out the 2019 Australian Agripreneur of the Year title ??. Well deserved – pictured here with @SwarmFarm Robotics our 2018 winner! Look out Global Future Agro Challenge Network – these guys are going to be hard to beat! #agtech#startup#agripreneur
Meet our next Judge for AusFAC!
Shaun knows the startup and innovation experience and what it takes to succeed. He’s the Co-Founder of a marketing startup he’s had success not just in attracting seed funding, but securing major Australian corporate clients.
It’s fantastic experience to have on our Judging panel as we get ready to crown 2019’s Australian Agripreneur of the Year!
Troy Bishop is the independent Regional Innovation Coordinator in a part-time capacity.
Troy has established himself as one of FNQ leaders in startups and business growth. He has successfully started a business that created opportunities for businesses with high-level business advice in all areas to ensure you have the right resources and services to be effective. Having a successful senior management career, including CEO of the GoLogic Group which established a world-first communications platform providing multi-level redundancy and multi integrated service provider system with the inclusion of an AI that provided service stability and economic sustainability. Troy has a wealth of knowledge on a wide range of industries and continues to grow his personal and professional development through connections and business opportunities.
Having a passion for startups and established businesses in the FNQ region.
Krista is a leader in agricultural innovation and is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Natural Evolution, a company specialising in green banana and other waste produce products. Krista’s interest in reducing waste and finding uses for unsaleable produce led to the development of Natural Evolution in 2015.
Following tireless work and research, she and husband Rob built the worlds first pharmaceutical-grade green banana processing facility and pioneered the process of turning produce in functional foods and cosmetics.
The business has experienced remarkable growth, expanding into international markets and winning sustainability and innovation awards in Australia and overseas. Krista’s efforts have earned her the prestigious AgriFutures™ Rural Woman of the Year 2018 and EY’s 2019 Northern Disruption Entrepreneur of the Year.
As founder and CEO of SwarmFarm Robotics, Andrew Bate is the chief visionary, leveraging his experience as a successful grain and cattle farmer and his deep knowledge of robotics to drive the successful development of the SwarmBot. Andrew has spent a lifetime in agriculture; he has trained as an agronomist at the University of Queensland and has spent the last 20 years farming near Emerald, Central Queensland.
In 2015 he founded SwarmFarm Robotics as a Startup technology company to commercialize robots for agriculture. Today, SwarmFarm Robotics has grown to be one of the leading robotics companies around the world with real working robots now being delivered to commercial farmers.
In 2018 he was awarded Australian Agripreneur of the Year at the Future Agro Challenge and in 2019 he came third overall in the world finals for the 2019 Global Agripreneur of the Year award.
Leanne Kemp is Founder and CEO of Everledger and Queensland Chief Entrepreneur. She is a prominent figure in the technology sector and recognised internationally as an innovator and leader. Her company Everledger uses Blockchain technology to track high-value assets such as diamonds, art and wine with the aim of increasing transparency and trust with technology.
In 2018, her entrepreneurial success saw her appointed as the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur in Australia, to develop the state’s startup ecosystem, attract investment and support job creation. She is the first woman entrepreneur to hold this position. In 2019 her tenure as Chief Entrepreneur was extended for another year, the first time the role has been extended since its creation.
Leanne works on a global scale to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation and is an advocate of sustainability in business. Leanne’s roles include:
Leanne is a two times Patent Inventor as well as holding the following prominent awards including:
The Australian Future Agro Challenge (AusFAC) is looking for Far North Queensland’s best amateur photographer/videographer!
Startup Tablelands’ AusFAC 2019 is happening on the 2nd of November, and we are looking to FNQ’s creative community for ideas on recording the event.
And the prize for the best idea? $1250 cash and the opportunity to put your creative streak into action on the day.
You never know where such an opportunity could take you as you mingle with some of our most inspiring entrepreneurs. Could be a chance to turn your hobby into a money-maker!
AusFAC is a unique farming and technology event –fast-paced, on-farm and displaying innovative technology and hosting dynamic guest speakers. And an opportunity for creatives, from school students to retirees with a passion for photography and videography, to show off their skills too.
AusFAC Organising Committee Chair Calum Kippin said.
The winner of the competition will receive a prize of $1250 to record the AusFAC competition on Saturday 2 November.
For more information and entry details, contact the AusFAC organising committee on fac@startuptablelands.org
We’re very excited to announce KPMG Partner and Head of AgriFood Tech Ben van Delden as one of our guest speakers for AusFAC19!
Why is Ben a part of AusFAC? Coming from a family business background in aquaculture, livestock and horticulture, Ben has a passion for the agribusiness sector. He has experience at every level of farm and food innovation – developing regional plans to increase farm output, working with the agriculture industry through groups like the Meat & Livestock Association and grower groups to identify solutions for farmers, and being involved with agtech incubators and startups to assess market opportunities and accelerate commercialisation.
We can’t wait to bring Ben’s incredible expertise to the Tablelands and hear the insights that he has for our local farmers and competing entrepreneurs.
We’re very proud that AusFAC brings agriculture innovators and farmers together. A big part of that is hosting our events on farms in the stunning Atherton Tablelands.
But to discover the best farming destinations, sometimes you have to get off the beaten track and we know that’s not always easy for up-and-coming startups on a tight budget!
That’s why we’re excited to offer up to $500 to help our startup finalists pay for their travel expenses to get to the competition. If you have an innovative and fundable solution to food and farming challenges, head on over to nominations to find out how to apply for AusFAC19 and #BePartOfTheFarmingRevolution!
??Congratulations to SwarmFarm Robotics on a fantastic final pitch to take out 3rd place in the Future Agro Challenge Global Agripreneur of The Year for 2019. Bates team you are amazing ambassadors for Australian agriculture & testament to what can be achieved & built in rural Australia
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