A ‘grain detective’ optimising quality assessments, a platform eliminating paperwork for farmers and soil treatments that increase nitrogen in a natural way may seem like an unlikely combination, but they cultivated plenty of discussion at an agtech event in Toowoomba.
These innovations were among the groundbreaking solutions for the grains sector that featured at the GRDC GroundUp Agtech Showcase Day on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
Held at the Agtech and Logistics Hub in Wellcamp, the event saw more than 150 people immerse themselves in a vast range of innovations, including producers, processors, resellers, investors and businesses or companies interested in the Australian grains sector.
The Showcase Day featured participants from GroundUp, an accelerator run by the Agtech and Logistics Hub, powered by AgriBusiness Connect, and supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
GroundUp participant Kurt Walter shared his device, known as The Grain Detective, which enables faster and more comprehensive grain quality assessments to drive efficiency, profitability and sustainability throughout the agricultural value chain.
“The device harnesses the power of AI and machine-learning technologies to provide farmers with swift and precise evaluations of their grain quality, enabling them to secure the maximum price for their produce,” the Walco Seed Cleaning Director said.
“Additionally, our solution seeks to empower anyone who assesses grain and seed by reducing their reliance on labour-intensive assessments, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in the grain-grading process.”
Fellow GroundUp participants Lee and Cassie Coleman from FarmSimple were equally excited to showcase their company’s groundbreaking one-stop-shop app for farmers.
Already used by more than 100 Australian farming businesses, the platform delivers a concise picture of an entire farming business, from managing paddock activities, equipment maintenance and contracts to staff workflow and timesheets, supporting operational efficiency.
“FarmSimple is a game-changer for farmers, who often juggle multiple apps with a single focus only delivering part of a farm management and compliance solution,” Mr Coleman said.
“The platform is laser focused on lightening the administrative load for farmers, with an emphasis on connectivity to other systems and an ultimate aim of having to enter data only once.”
Metagen’s Director of Agronomy Research Shane Fitzgerald, who also completed the GroundUp accelerator, shared his team’s innovative soil treatment DIGESTOR, which reduces reliance on chemical inputs such as nitrogen and phosphorus by significantly improving the efficiency of resources already present in the soil. It specifically stimulates indigenous soil biology, increasing the activity of microbes responsible for nitrogen fixation, cycling and phosphorus solubilisation.
“These changes in soil health also benefit plants in many other ways, such as increases in disease suppression and water-use efficiency,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“Our team has worked hard to create DIGESTOR, which is microbially formulated to improve crop and soil health, yield and production quality. The soil health systems we applied in horticulture and sugar, are now being applied to cropping, which is an exciting advancement.”
AgriBusiness Connect CEO Thomas Hall said the industry showcase provided innovators with the opportunity to connect with industry and present their solutions to potential customers.
“The event built on the previous industry demonstration days at the Agtech and Logistics Hub and was a fitting way to highlight GroundUp, an accelerator program focused on driving innovation in the grains sector,” he said.
The event featured several exhibitors with technologies to complement the Australian grains sector, including AirAgri and HINDSITE Industries, who completed the 2023 GRDC GroundUp program.
Other exhibitors included virtual simulation training solutions provider Real Serious Games, John Deere and Vermeer equipment dealer RDO and leading emissions platform for farmers, Ruminati.