Episodes
This series was recorded live at evokeAG 2024 in Perth and explores the exceptional edge of agrifood tech innovation and a relentless pursuit of innovation at a critical juncture in time.When it comes to our remaining global emissions budget, things are tight.In a world of significant socio-economic pressures, how do we maintain productivity while reducing our environmental footprint?Dr Lewis Akenji is the managing director of the Hot or Cool Institute and as a keynote speaker at evokeAG. 202...
Published 07/18/24
This series was recorded live at evokeAG. 2024 in Perth and explores the exceptional edge of agrifood. The remarkable world of circular economies was one of the hot topics of evokeAG. 2024, with plenty of panel discussions and keynote speakers touching on it. However, the work being done by Natalie Bell, founder of Hylo Ag and one of evokeAG.'s 2024 Future Young Leaders is a fantastic case study. As Natalie explained to our contributor Jayne Cuddihy, Hylo Ag is a startup aiming...
Published 07/11/24
This series was recorded live at evokeAG. 2024 in Perth and explores the exceptional edge of agrifood From pharmaceuticals to agriculture, biologicals offer promising avenues for sustainable and effective solutions. In this episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy unravels the complexities and potentials of biologicals through insightful discussions with two experts in the field. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about biologicals than Dr Pam Marrone, the C...
Published 07/04/24
Fern Ho’s love of food was inconveniently disrupted when she developed food intolerances as an adult. This led her on a quest to better understand the provenance of food, while co-founding an alternative protein startup, The Leaf Protein Co.Now, the business is at the forefront of what Australia can do to help meet global market demands to address changing dietary trends and needs.She spoke to our contributor Jayne Cuddihy on her remarkable journey. Tickets are now on sale for evokeAG 2025 to...
Published 06/27/24
Despite being a fascinating subject, Cultural IP is quite often an uncomfortable place to do business. Darryl Lyons, chief rainmaker at Rainstick and Dr Terri Janke, owner and solicitor director of Terri Janke and Company are not only passionate about the protection of Australian Indigenous Cultural IP but have dedicated their careers to helping to educate others around what it means. In this episode they are in conversation with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy. This series was recorded li...
Published 06/20/24
There’s a certain exhilaration that creeps in when a startup becomes a scaleup. In this episode we’re hearing from two Queensland-based agtech companies who’ve done exactly that and attended evokeAG 2024 as exhibitors in the inaugural Scaleup Station. Phil Livingston from AgBot and John Pattinson, Chief Development Officer from Goanna Ag told our contributor Jayne Cuddihy that collaboration has been a huge part of their success. Tickets are now on sale for evokeAG 2025 to be held on...
Published 06/13/24
Around the world, agrifood entrepreneurs are addressing social impact, but often in isolation. How can we bring these ideas together and make impact collaboratively? Abi Ramanan is a food systems entrepreneur and Julie Hersch, is Co-Founder of both Eloments Natural Vitamin Tea and Mullin.In this episode, our contributor Jayne Cuddihy explores their tireless pursuit of highlighting social impact in the agrifood supply chain. This series was recorded live at evokeAG 2024 in Perth and ...
Published 06/06/24
Global sustainability requirements can be a tricky area to navigate, especially when you are a scaleup operating across global boundaries. So, let’s put in practical terms!In this episode, Justin Webb, Co-Founder of Agriwebb and Charlotte Weston, Global Sustainability Director, EY, and a member of the Expert Advisory Board of The Earthshot Prize explore the challenges and opportunities for agribusinesses with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy. This series was recorded live at evokeAG 2024 in Pert...
Published 05/30/24
To say the two guests in this episode are passionate about soil is an understatement. Antony Yousefian, Partner, The First Thirty Ventures and Tegan Nock, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Loam Bio live and breathe soil health and believe in empowering farmers to boost soil carbon using microbial technology. In conversation with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy, they discuss not only how a systems-based strategy could change the marketplace for carbon, but how a global approach could work. ...
Published 05/23/24
Part of the magic of evokeAG is the conversations around global food production and how we can do it better - with more collaboration and innovation. In this episode, our contributor Jayne Cuddihy spoke to two powerhouses in the global scene; Ryan Rakestraw, director of Temasek, a diversified investment company headquartered in Singapore, and Matt Macfarlane, a director of AgriFutures Australia and venture capital investor. They not only gazed into the crystal ball for the short term but look...
Published 05/16/24
Since the inception of the evokeAG, Elders has played a pivotal role in bringing the event together. With a deep linkage to agriculture in all its forms right across the country, Elders priorities innovation and sustainability. In this episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy sat down with Dave McKeon, Head of Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture, Elders to talk everything from the uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) for farmers to how the company continues to innovate. This series was record...
Published 05/09/24
The startup ecosystem can be a brutal realm. The ability to think outside the box, pivot, dream big, spend small and negotiate change is really only the tip of the iceberg. Olympia Yarger, founder and CEO of Goterra and Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovation not only have taken this challenges head on, but thrived. However, is it what it seems? In this episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy asked Olympia and Sally-Ann everything from developing the deep tech sector in Australia, to ...
Published 05/02/24
The evokeAG event may have only just wrapped up in Perth for another year, but planning is already underway for next year’s premier agrifood innovation event. And where else, but Queensland? The Sunshine State. AgriFutures Australia is excited to be taking evokeAG to Brisbane in February 2025 with the support of Platinum Partner Elders, Host City Partner Brisbane Economic Development Agency and the Host State Partner Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The event...
Published 04/25/24
Did you know that wheat genes are five times more complex than a human's? Innovation knows no world boundaries and there’s no better example than how Australia's first gene edited wheat variety is being developed.
Tress Walmsley is the CEO of Intergrain, one of the leaders in cereal breeding in Australia, and has been working closely with Ponsi Trivisvavet, the CEO of Inari which is a seed design company using predictive design and advanced multiplex gene editing to unlock the full potential...
Published 04/18/24
With a showcase lineup of speakers at evokeAG 2024, the event highlighted Asia Pacific’s exceptional edge to the world, helping delegates find their cutting edge.
Centre stage was Nina Schick, a pioneering artificial intelligence expert, exploring how the emerging field of artificial intelligence will change humanity.
In this episode she joins Phil Morle in conversation with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy.
Phil is a Partner at Main Sequence Ventures, an Australian based venture capital firm...
Published 04/11/24
The food and beverage sector is Australia’s largest manufacturing industry, worth more than $132 billion, accounting for 32% of total manufacturing turnover, and employing more than 270,000 people. Yet, the advent of COVID-19, rising climate volatility and geopolitical tensions, have underscored the imperative for more resilient and innovative food systems.
A recent opportunity listed on AgriFutures growAG sought to identify forward-thinking startups, SMEs or large companies with...
Published 09/20/23
Have you ever heard of the concept of a digital twin? In this episode we’re hearing from Stu Adam, one of the Co-Founders of Agronomeye. Agronomeye is a business that creates incredibly detailed maps and models of farms, helping landowners and managers understand what's going on across their property so they can make better decisions.
As an entrepreneur in the purest sense of the word, CEO Stu Adam has a background in journalism and admits he was more into surfing than agriculture. Perhaps...
Published 07/13/23
Adam Anders is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Anterra Capital, a venture capital fund focussing on investing in innovative companies that are transforming the safety, security and sustainability of global food.
Having grown up on a farm in South Australia, Adam has lived the highs and lows of any budding entrepreneur, but admits it’s given him a unique insight into all facets of the sometimes gruelling process. Now, at the helm of his company Anterra, he is committed to building a...
Published 07/12/23
Finding world-leading agrifood research expertise, and research, investment and commercialisation opportunities easily, let alone in one easy-to-use location, has always been a challenge – until AgriFutures growAG.
growAG is helping to connect its users, researchers, investors, innovators, thought leaders and commercial partners from around Australia and across the globe with agrifood innovation, expertise and opportunities. By shortening the time it can take to find and connect with...
Published 06/29/23
As the transition from fossil fuels to renewables gathers pace globally, we brought together different perspectives in a breakout session at evokeAG 2023 in Adelaide. From those who’ve commercialised renewable fuels on a large scale, to the challenges of sustaining biofuels at a local level, our panellists shared the challenges and opportunities in the production and application of sustainable fuel sources.
Before the live recording of the discussion, evokeAG contributor, Jayne Cuddihy, sat...
Published 06/22/23
With an expected two billion extra people to feed by 2050, coupled with changing tastes and dietary preferences, there is a growing global demand for more protein, produced more sustainably and from a wider variety of sources. So how, as a global community are we going to achieve that? In this episode we’re exploring what it will take to satisfy the growing global appetite for protein.
The panel discussion recorded live at evokeAG 2023 includes Professor Michelle Colgrave, the Deputy...
Published 06/21/23
Globally, research and investment into biological solutions to improve soil and plant health is accelerating exponentially.
As regulators around the world seek to reduce the application of chemical pesticides, farmers and growers are looking at biological alternatives to protect plants from diseases, pests, and weeds, or to improve the health of their plants.
This workshop, recorded live at evokeAG 2023 looks at the global landscape for biologicals development and application and explores...
Published 06/20/23
How does an engineer end up crystal ball gazing for next gen plant breeding on a global scale? By thinking outside the box of course!
In this episode we’re hearing from Alexander Tokarz, the head of group strategy for Syngenta Group. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he’s responsible for the company’s long-term growth strategy and business development.
His presentation at evokeAG inspired attendees to think about the potential of next gen plant breeding and how it can be used to create a more...
Published 06/20/23
Clean and green is to New Zealand, what the Emerald Isle is to Ireland and what innovation is to Israel. These countries have built brand identities and entire markets on leveraging their unique strengths and stories.
In this episode we’re bringing you three presentations recorded live at evokeAG 2023 from David Downs, CEO of New Zealand Story, Shifka Seigel, Project Manager, Israel Australian Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Shelman, Founder of the Shelman Group.
What can Australia learn...
Published 06/17/23
Uber and Airbnb turned two conventional industries on their heads. How did they do it? Using software that allows two applications to talk to each other. Now it’s agriculture’s turn.
In this episode we're bringing you a workshop " Data as a second language: understanding what your farm is saying to you" recorded at evokeAG 2023.
Here Andrew Skinner, Director of More Than Machines, and Andrew Cooke , Co-Founder and Managing Director, Rezare Systems showcased the possibilities and benefits...
Published 06/16/23