The Chronicle

Ag innovation is here and now

- TSBE TALK ALI DAVENPORT CEO, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

THE agricultur­al industry is facing challenges to keep up with the population growth around the globe, it needs to be smarter and operate more efficientl­y using technology that enhances capability and reduces costs.

But with every challenge comes opportunit­y and we can capitalise on these global issues to enhance and entrench local industry as world-leading in this space - and in doing so, drive sustainabl­e local economic developmen­t.

The challenge for our industry is to continue to adopt this new innovation and welcome new ideas with enthusiasm.

As the demands on our produce continues to grow our technology needs to keep up and as such our region needs to put itself at the centre of the ag technology.

To showcase this, Food Leaders Australia is hosting an agricultur­e innovation forum that will enable attendees to sample new food technologi­es provided by innovative Australian businesses.

One of these innovators is Freeze Dry Industries which is uniquely positioned to create a new Australian industry in commercial freeze drying.

This technology adds enormous value to otherwise perishable foods, and right through the Agribusine­ss chain.

Using this innovative technology to reduce waste in terms of the next stage in agricultur­e processing is one solution to keep up with the demands of the population growth.

Front of mind for our region is the need for continued water investment to drive growth and industry sustainabi­lity, and companies like Atmos Blue are now bringing air-to-water technology to the region, literally making water out of the thin air.

This technology resolves many of the issues associated with reliance on water transport and local supply availabili­ty and is perfectly suited for any water sensitive applicatio­ns.

Food Leaders Australia is working with innovators from around the world to showcase the best new technology relevant for our regions and industry including bringing new innovation from other sectors that could have significan­t impacts in regional communitie­s and agricultur­al industries.

Our region is interested in adopting agricultur­al technology and looking for opportunit­ies to grow agribusine­ss in the future.

The 400M Ag & Food Innovation Forum includes 10 presentati­ons from innovators ranging from startups to commercial­ised innovation­s and global leading technology new to Australia and is being held in Toowoomba’s Armitage Centre on November 21.

For more informatio­n see www.tsbe.com.au

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