Agri-food innovation: Animal health technology and AI for better beekeeping star in Australian AgXelerate Program

28 Aug 2023 --- AI for beekeepers, detecting disease in livestock and what is claimed to be the first-ever real-time food and fiber verification tool are among the latest innovations selected to participate in the AgriFutures AgXelerate Program.

Eleven start-ups and scale-ups are participating in a personalized program designed to support their development and help them prototype and commercialize their innovations for use in levied and emerging industries under AgriFutures Australia’s remit.

Nurturing talent & innovation
The cohort will take part in workshops, farm tours, and a series of online sessions. 

AgriFutures general manager, Global Innovation Networks, Harriet Mellish, says the program will bring ideas onto the global stage and further the development and adoption of world-class technology for AgriFutures levied and emerging industries.

“Each company has a creative idea, product or service that we want to help nurture and ensure our levied and emerging industries have access to. Some of these companies already have fit for purpose solutions for these industries, while others are taking part in the program to establish if its innovation has market fit for agriculture and these industries.”

“This year’s cohort includes companies spanning from Australia to the US and have broad areas of focus, from simulated rainfall for crop productivity to proactive animal health technology.

“These companies have great potential to help the agri-food sector find solutions to address complex challenges for Australian agriculture, and we look forward to helping them on this journey.”

Who features in the program?
Companies selected in the AgriFutures AgXelerate Program include:

- Breedr: provides modern and paperless stallion booking alternatives.

- Protequus: is a biomedical engineering firm working to protect the welfare of animals through advances in AI, biosensors, and IoT connectivity, creating a smart halter for horses.

- VetChip: is dedicated to improving animal health and welfare through pioneering technology, proactive monitoring systems, data analytics, and disease detection.The AgriFutures AgXelerate personalized program will leverage AI for future beekeeping. 

- Wrkplace: provides digital software and consulting services for the Thoroughbred industry.

Extag: The provider of Smart Asset Management systems is looking to develop its technology traditionally serving the mining sector for agriculture.

Honey Bee and Pollination
Boost AI: In the early stage of technology development, the company will use AI and machine learning to help assist the needs of beekeepers and other producers.

LB Agtech: has developed BeeSTAR to authenticate the value of honey and monitor the location of hives in real-time based on global coverage connectivity and an in-house developed Hive Health Matrix.

Rainstick: mimics the effects of thunderstorms to grow plants faster, bigger and more sustainably through the use of First Nations knowledge of bioelectricity.

Yarta: is creating a central ‘brain’ for farmers by providing research and news to farmers as actionable and targeted insights through an AI platform.

OceanOne: aims to turn destructive sea urchins into premium seafood products 

Zondii: uses patented multispectral technology to deliver the world’s first real-time food and fiber verification tool

The AgXelerate Program begins tomorrow (Tuesday, August 29) with a workshop in Wagga Wagga, Australia, which has been curated for the specific needs of the selected start-ups. This will be followed by a day of farm field trips to connect with producers.

Edited by Gaynor Selby

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