Ag-tech startups to promote technology to world’s fastest-growing economy

Five businesses from NSW set to be on show at the India Ag-tech Exchange 2019.

Global adventure: Mick Thornett from Solution Blue will be travelling to India in October with four other NSW ag-tech startups. Picture: Supplied

FIVE ag-tech startups from NSW have been selected to travel to India in October with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to promote their technology in the world’s fastest-growing economy.

DPI group director business development and innovation Bruce Finney said the India Ag-Tech Exchange 2019 was an immersion program run by DPI’s innovation centre the GATE.

The exchange aims to explore the opportunities available to embed startup technology from NSW in India’s agricultural industry.

“The selected companies will visit four Indian cities and more than 20 companies over 13 days with introductions to venture capital, governments, agricultural companies and Indian startups,” Mr Finney said.

“This exposure will help these startups to develop on a global scale and to better understand market opportunities and constraints.

“They will also learn what Indian technologies can be used in NSW to increase agricultural benefits and identify actions that may positively impact NSW agriculture profitability via market development.”

The selected startups in the 2019 program include:

Solution Blue – developing sustainable agriculture systems like bug farming and aquaponics for a smarter farming future

Agtrix – trusted supply chain systems for the agricultural industry from harvest management to onbound logistics

Agriscan – electronic ID tags to allow farmers to move from mob-based averages to individual animal management; readers can read multiple animals simultaneously

Flurosat – the world’s most scalable, predictive agronomic analytics engine

Collaborative Process Unit – allows early detection of pest or disease infestation and damage using advanced sensors, software and data analytics.

Mr Finney said the India Ag-Tech Exchange program would help develop successful and ongoing relationships between DPI and Indian hubs, to facilitate bilateral exchanges of agricultural technologies.

“As part of the exchange, NSW Treasury – India and DPI will also provide in-country support for an ag-tech expert to attend the Gate Demo Day in September,” Mr Finney said.

“By building relationships with rapidly growing Indian ag-tech hubs, we will ultimately improve the productivity and profitability of NSW agribusiness.”