Accelerate with WA

Western Australia proudly supports innovation and sustainability in the agriculture sector.
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Man in paddock operating drone

Driving innovation and increasing adoption of technology across the agrifood supply chain is a key priority for the Western Australian Government.

The Western Australian Government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is committed to attracting investment into Western Australia’s agtech industries.

The State Government has a vision to create a strong, diverse and resilient economy that delivers secure, quality jobs through increased investment across a broad range of industries. This is achieved by focusing on value-added industries, innovation and investment.

Research and development capability and global competitiveness are critical to the success and sustainability of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industry sectors. Through boosting the state’s scientific capacity to drive research development and innovation across the sector, it ensures that Western Australia remains internationally competitive and profitable.

Case studies

Find out how DPIRD has supported the agtech and agrifoodtech ecosystem by following the journey of some of our startup and scaleup agribusinesses below.

Co founder Christian Prokscha holding radish grown in his vertical farm (Source Christian Prokscha)

Eden Towers: reaching new heights with sustainable urban farming

With an interest in the food supply chain, Christian Prokscha and his wife Julia were keen to create healthier, more nutritious food at better margins than traditional farms. Find out more here.
Orijin Plus allows brands to showcase certifications to build consumer confidence (Source Orijin Plus)

Orijin Plus: Offering traceability in every bite

Plenty of exporters claim they are producing genuine Australian beef, but how do consumers know that is actually correct? Find out more here.
Tagged piglet

Xiot® Tag: Precision health and wellbeing insights for livestock

Imagine receiving real time data about the health and wellbeing of livestock and making better management decisions from that powerful information. Find out more here.

What is agtech?

Agricultural technology, also known as agtech, agritech or agrifoodtech, is the use of developing technology, digital solutions or innovative products that address an identified need in agriculture, food or beverage production with the aim of improving yield, efficiency and profitability.

Agtech can be products, services or applications derived from agriculture that improve various food production and distribution processes including:

  • Artificial intelligence solutions.
  • Automation, robotics or autonomous vehicles.
  • Data or image capture and analysis.
  • Digital connectivity solutions.
  • Farm management.
  • Food processing, food traceability or innovative food packaging technology.
  • New or alternate foods or plant based proteins.
  • Novel farming or food production systems.
  • Water or irrigation management.

Agtech support available and upcoming programs

DPIRD has invested in and partnered with a range of programs and capability building initiatives to capitalise on the growth of technology and support businesses and individuals who are using agtech.

DPIRD supports the following initiatives:

AgriFutures Australia's evokeAG

evokeAG. is an exceptional opportunity to showcase Western Australia agtech development and investment opportunities.

DPIRD will again be supporting the Asia-Pacific region's premier agrifood tech event, AgriFutures evokeAG. . Held in Brisbane Queensland from 18-19 February 2025, evokeAG. attracts agrifood innovators from around the world such as farmers, processors, innovators, accelerators, start-ups, researchers, universities, corporates, Government and investors.

DPIRD will showcase the agtech investment opportunities on offer in WA, as well as promote the unique RD&E available in the State, through a dedicated trade display and WA agtech and producer delegation.

Find our more about evokeAG. 2025 here.

 

WA Agtech Meetup Group

The WA Agtech meetups aim to bring together the entire agtech ecosystem (both in-person and virtually) to share knowledge, learn from successful startups, and identify the challenges for agriculture that need solving.

The WA Agtech Meetup Group helps connect the agtech and agrifood technology industries and promotes innovation, comprising of representatives from the Federal Government (CSIRO), the WA State Government (DPIRD) and from the private sector such as AgriFutures, Agristart, Agworld, the Grain Growers Alliance, CBH, Rabobank and agtech advisory firm Beanstalk.

Since 2021 The WA Agtech Meetup Group has held more than 12 meetups, highlight specific subjects and promoting networking opportunities amongst stakeholders. The group holds several meet ups during the year to provide networking opportunities or highlight specific subjects related to agrifood technology.

Find out more about the WA Agtech Meetup Group here.

CSIRO Innovate to Grow WA

Designed for start-ups and SMEs in WA, this program targets the state’s extensive agricultural landscape, spanning 71 million hectares and supporting diverse agricultural production, from broadacre farming to intensive agriculture and aquaculture.

The CSIRO Innovate to Grow WA (I2G WA) is an 8-week online program which helps small-medium sized enterprises (SME) in the agrifood arena, build skills and networks to turn ideas into viable Research & Development (R&D) projects. 

Participants in the program are matched with mentors from all over Australia to help them learn and build their R&D business case and also learn how to prepare a strong funding case.  I2G is run completely online and is free to the participating WA’s SME – DPIRD covers the program costs for WA SMEs. Dates for I2G WA will be released soon.

Find out more about the CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow Program WA here.

Western Australia Food Industry Education Collaboration Program

Recruiting and training an intern for your organisation takes time – that’s where the WA Food Industry Education Collaboration Program can help. 

The WA Food Industry Education Collaboration Program can help find the right candidate for your business’ needs and work with educational institutions across WA to attract quality students who demonstrate a keen interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to available opportunities.  

Find out more about the WA Food Industry Education Collaboration Program here.

Singapore International Agrifood Week (SIAW)

SIAW is Asia’s leading platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development supported 11 Western Australian agrifood technology startups and scaleups to attend the prominent Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW) during November 2024.

SIAW brings together global industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to build new partnerships and explore opportunities for agri-food technology development and adoption.

The event was a unique opportunity to showcase WA-grown innovation and agtech solutions and provide a connection for WA developers with an international audience.

DPIRD supported 11 WA businesses to attend. They included:

  • AxisTech
  • C4C Packaging
  • Carbon Farming Partners
  • Everboost
  • Hippie Brewing Co
  • Liquim
  • MALDIID Pty Ltd
  • Red Earth Pollen
  • SeaStock Pty Ltd
  • VentureX HQ
  • Xsights Digital Pty Ltd

Find our more about SIAW 2024 here.

West Tech Fest

Held annually in WA, West Tech Fest stimulates conversations about scaling startup businesses and investment in technology and innovation at a global scale, whilst fostering connections and building support networks.

DPIRD contributes to the WA agrifood-tech ecosystem by increasing awareness of WA’s innovation strengths, capabilities and collaboration opportunities, and supporting business development for WA’s agrifood-tech businesses.

The Department was pleased to support this established event during December 2024, where WA innovators were afforded prime opportunity to showcase their research and agtech solutions with an engaged and proactive audience.

DPIRD supported 10 WA agrifood technology startups and scaleups to attend West Tech Main 2024 as part of a “agrifood tech and regional tech alley”. They included:

  • Rumin8 Pty Ltd
  • SeaStock Pty Ltd
  • Xsights Digital Pty Ltd
  • Everboost
  • Red Earth Pollen
  • resonAg Pty Ltd
  • Renergi
  • UXMachines Pty Ltd
  • Agritrix Pty Ltd
  • Novolo

Find our more about West Tech Fest here.

 

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