The Victorian Government is undertaking a global search for agtech solutions for the State’s agriculture and food industries. As part of the Internet of Things trial, the government has been investigating the barriers to digital technologies in agriculture, including connectivity and the use of on-farm applications. The...
Securing skilled and unskilled labour continues to hamper production for Australian almond growers. Image: Almonds by Daniel Schwen available under a CC3.0 license. China’s 25 per cent trade tariff on American almonds could provide a lucrative opportunity for Australian growers. American almonds make up 80% of the global market,...
Newly available DNA information will make it easier for wheat breeders to isolate desirable traits. Image Wheat by David Monniaux licensed under a CC3.0 agreement. In a world-first, a ground-breaking, thirteen-year global research project has recently culminated, producing a full reference sequence for the wheat variety Chinese Spring. Developing...
Australia's reputation for producing safe meat products may help exporters get a foot in the door of China's lucrative import market. Image by Fanifrank, from Wikimedia under a CC4.0 license. The world’s largest pig herd is under threat after it was reported that African Swine Fever has...
Investment company Growth Farms has announced a $100 million venture to lease land to Australian farmers. As the cost of agricultural land increases, leasing farmland is becoming an increasingly popular option for farmers who want to expand holdings and capitalise on enterprise scale. Growth Farm’s ten-year investment...
More consumers are opting to purchase foods free of single-plastic packaging. Image by mcstudio79 from pixabay under a CC0 license. The world’s first plastic-free aisle has opened in a supermarket in the Netherlands. Retail chain Ekoplaza has included the plastic-free area amid the growing trend against single-use...
98% of New South Wales and more than 57% of Queensland are in a state of declared drought. Image by Jussarian available on Flikr on a CC2.0 license. The New South Wales Government has announced an additional $500 million in funding to help farmers facing drought, tipping...
Consumer trends set to drive fresh produce growth includes an increasing need for convenient, healthy options. Image by igorovsyannkov, available at pixabay under a CC0 license. Australia’s fresh produce sector offers great potential for future sales growth, according to a report released by Neilsen this month. The analysis, which...
Mail delivered by drone could soon be a reality, as the logistics industry catches up with advances in technology. Image: The Interspect by Bako Gaboravailable at Wikimedia under a Creative Commons 1.0 license. The Deakin Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics has recently completed a scenario...
Image: The development of a large scale horticulture enterprise at Monash offers a welcome boost to the southern Murray-Darling Basin economy. A bold new agricultural development will see almost $210 million invested in the Riverland region of South Australia over the next five years, targeting the...