Nine industry leaders appointed to AgTech Advisory Group
From farmers to professors, the state government’s Agtech Advisory Group has drawn in high calibre members.
NINE South Australian business, industry and academic leaders have been appointed to the state government’s new AgTech Advisory Group.
The group’s aim is to provide a co-ordinated and long-term approach to the development and uptake of technology in agriculture in South Australia.
The group was selected from almost 70 nominations and will be led by independent chairwoman, Dr Leanna Read, South Australia’s former chief scientist who is a renowned biotechnology expert.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said members of the advisory group bring considerable experience and expertise across the AgTech and primary industries sector.
“Each member appointed to the AgTech Advisory Group is committed to making our agricultural industries more productive, sustainable and profitable through adoption of technologies and on-farm innovation,” he said.
“Technology in the primary industries sector is changing at a rapid pace and this group will assist in positioning South Australia as a leader in this space.
“AgTech has been identified as a key growth area to help farmers boost agriculture to a $100 billion industry in Australia by 2030 and South Australia needs a co-ordinated approach to ensure we can contribute significantly to this target.”
Other members of the Minister’s AgTech Advisory Group are:
* Jim Whalley, South Australia’s chief entrepreneur, who is also chairman and co-founder of defence industry company Nova Systems and a former air force fighter pilot.
* Dougal McOmish, who has extensive experience in application and trials of technologies on-farm and in venture capital financing, having been the chief operating officer for Sundrop Farms at Port Augusta.
* Karen Ross, who has extensive experience in the agriculture sector and is the general manager of innovation, digital and brand at Elders.
* Oli Madgett, who has a family vineyard in the McLaren Vale wine region and is the co-founder of AgTech start-up Platfarm.
* Andrew Grant, who has co-founded four AgTech start-ups across different agricultural sectors in South Australia, which are all commercialising technologies with leading South Australian agricultural companies.
* Tom Rayner, who holds a senior position at satellite communications start up Myriota, which has significant applications in the AgTech sector.
* Professor Andrew Lowe, the inaugural director of agrifood and wine at the University of Adelaide, who works with partners in the agrifood and wine sectors to position the university and state as a world-class destination for research and education.
* Penny Schulz, a beef and sheep farmer in the South East, who is also vice-president of South Australian peak body Livestock SA. She has also worked in the livestock and dairy extension space for more than a decade and has undertaken research into adoption of technology by sheep farmers and the role of this technology in the future of farm extension.