Western Australian agrifood ag-tech companies and start-ups looking to expand and raise capital are encouraged to apply for a grant to attend the evokeAG conference – the biggest ag-tech event in the Asia Pacific.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has six support packages worth $1500 each to assist recipients to attend the conference, hosted by AgriFutures Australia, in Melbourne from 18-19 February 2020.
DPIRD is a strategic partner of the highly anticipated conference, which will embrace the three themes of food, farming and future.
Department agribusiness food and trade investment manager, Susan Hall, said evokeAG provided a unique forum for WA investor-ready companies to gather ideas and connect with investors, while networking with a range of ag-tech stakeholders from around the world.
“The conference will include more than 70 expert speakers who will challenge conventions of what we grow, how we grow it and what we eat,” she said.
“In its inaugural year in 2019, evokeAG attracted more than 1000 delegates from 30 countries, highlighting the tremendous international networking opportunities for WA participants in the conference.
“Last year DPIRD supported six businesses to attend the event, which are now progressing through commercialisation and capital raising.”
A feature of the two-day conference is Start-up Alley, where Australian and international start-ups present their technologies and solutions to global agricultural problems.
“We are very pleased to see four WA ag-tech businesses participating in Start-up Alley, where they will have an opportunity to showcase their start-ups in exhibition style to all conference delegates,” Ms Hall said.
The department has a broad commitment to accelerate the development and adoption of ag-tech in WA, which has become an integral component of successful, modern agribusiness operation.
Ms Hall said DPIRD had been at the forefront of supporting accelerator programs for ag-tech entrepreneurs in WA.
“DPIRD also administers the ground-breaking Digital Farm Grants program, providing high quality broadband services to areas outside the National Broadband Network fixed line and fixed wireless footprint from which to operate ag-tech,” she said.
“The WA Internet of Things DecisionAg Program has also provided grants to eight grower groups and five secondary schools to explore a range of ag-tech opportunities and challenges.”
For more information about the evokeAG conference and to submit an Expression of Interest for a support package visit agric.wa.gov.au/evokeAG. Applications close on Friday, 10 January 2020 at 5pm. Successful applicants will be notified late January 2020.
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