By CEO Jenn Honnery
DURING the past few years, the term agritech has become somewhat of a buzz word, with the horticulture industry awash with new innovations.
In general, agritech encompasses the use of technology to increase yield, efficiency and profitability for farming businesses.
It spans every aspect of the business, from paddock to shed and through the supply chain.
At Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, the team is at the forefront of the digital transformation occurring on farms.
Four projects are currently underway to introduce new products to the industry, address biosecurity, support growers’ uptake of the technology and showcase the multitude of solutions available.
On the ground, our Regional Development Officer Luke, and our Agricultural Workforce Officer Gill, have been connecting agritech consultants with growers, through the Producer Technology Uptake project.
Identifying the key challenges experienced by individual farming businesses has enabled the team to deliver bespoke solutions.
This is also supported by the Smart Data Decisions project, offering financial assistance to install the technology chosen.
In November, BGGA will host the GrownIn NQ Innovation Day – a showcase of a wide selection of agritech and innovative products on the market.
Our exhibitor line up is proving to be diverse and will offer solutions for all the commodities grown in our region and across the north.
The day will be preceded by an industry breakfast and a tour of the farms already engaging with agritech solutions.
There will also be several key speakers covering a range of topics of particular interest to the industry.
Over the next two years, BGGA is leading the installation of RapidAim traps, designed to detect the presence and movement of the fall army worm.
This innovative tech has been installed at key locations in our region and across the country, giving growers regional and national data to assist with pest management.
With these projects underway, and a few more in the pipeline, BGGA is confident that agritech is one tool in the box to assist the industry with the growing compliance requirements and rising production costs and, ultimately, to continue to grow the premium produce we are globally renowned for.
