This article was originally published in the R.M. Williams OUTBACK Magazine.

A compostable mulch film that could prevent 20,000 tonnes of plastic being thrown away on Aussie farms each year; a synthetic palm oil that could stop the destruction of forests worldwide; and a probiotic found in cow stomachs that can halve the methane cattle produce. 

These are just some of the innovations being actively developed by the latest wave of agtech companies who presented at the annual SparkLabs Cultiv8 showcase in Orange, NSW, in October. As the 200-strong crowd of  R.M.Williams boot-wearing representatives from investment companies, industry, government and the community arrived for the showcase and dinner, some of the 9 agtech start-up company representatives could be seen pacing and practising their short, punchy presentations in a nearby vineyard. 

SparkLabs Cultiv8 is an organisation that has supported and funded more than 50 early stage agrifood tech companies. Cultiv8 partner Malcolm Nutt said he was proud it is based in Orange, NSW, rather than a major city.

“In the past 18 months in ag tech, there has been more money raised and jobs created in Orange than in any other town in Australia,”

he said. 

Former NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Trade, Industry and Water Niall Blair capably presented on behalf of his agtech start-up company, Alkira Therapeutics, with its vision of “connecting farmers to pharma” and “paddock to pill”. He said that the complementary medicine industry is worth about $6 billion a year, but in Australia 99% of ingredients are imported, even though some of the needed ingredients can be found in agricultural waste. For example, omega 3 can be obtained from waste in the seafood industry, or vital grapeseed extracts could be obtained from the 350,000 tonnes of grape marc that Australia produces every year.

“This is being done in other parts of the world – we just need to be better at doing it in Australia,”

he said. 

Andrew Logan, founder of Teramax, has spent 7 years creating a strong, flexible, home-compostable film that can replace plastic mulch mats used in crops such as capsicums and tomatoes. It’s been trialled successfully in more than 20 sites across a range of crops and could have a huge market both here and in the US. “You use it exactly the same as plastic,” he says. “It needs to last long enough for you to do what you want it to do but then go away. It has to be strong and soil friendly.” 

One of the Orange community locals who attended the showcase was cattle and sheep farmer Juls Jackson of Bell Hill Angus, Three Hills Aussie White Stud and Coronga White Suffolks. She said she was excited by the presentations and the up-and-coming tech.

“We’re looking for what the future will hold in terms of innovations going ahead that will improve our production.  To us it’s an eye-opener. It’s really inspiring.”