Food Agility is a dynamic innovation system that matches new and emerging research to real-world scenarios.
We manage the research and development of new technology and services, support the creation of prototypes, and enable the demonstration of new ideas.
The robust scientific research is led by our strategic partners and leading Australian universities.
By delivering the outcomes of this research to our wide audience of stakeholders, we create pathways to commercialisation, scale, adoption and impact.
While this work happens in the now, we always have one eye on the future, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational outreach and extension activities to students who will become the catalyst for change.
WHAT IS REGENERISING AGRICULTURE?
The integration of renewable energy, circular economy principles and regenerative agriculture offers a substantial opportunity to address critical challenges within the agricultural sector. This includes the management of energy and chemical inputs, as well as the sustainable handling of organic byproducts and waste streams.
If we combine clean energy with farming that's all about closing the loop and improving our key natural asset, the land, we could tackle some of the big headaches farmers face. Being self-sufficient in terms of power and fertiliser and dealing with all the leftover farming ‘waste’.
Farmers understand the language of nature. By uniting wisdom with technology where agri-renewables take centre stage we aim to ‘regenerise’ agriculture where technology, practice and big picture thinking work together to create resilient, productive and future fit farms and regions.
GET INVOLVED
Food Agility welcomes participation from stakeholders in government, industry and academia seeking to bring their research and innovation ideas to life.
If you’re interested in seeing renewable energy and regenerative agriculture practices play a pivotal role in turning communities across the country into ‘regenerised’ regions, then get in touch with us today.
There are opportunities to collaborate, co-fund, and champion different aspects of our approach. Please contact our Regenerising Agriculture lead, Stephen Summerhayes.
Food Agility created and delivered the Renewables in Agriculture Centre of Excellence at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
This centre aims to unlock the potential of renewables in agricultural value chains to power farms and regional economies, and support a sustainable, resilient and circular food system.
To deliver the first tranche of ‘anchor’ projects, we collaborated with Charles Sturt University and the Race for 2030 CRC to run the first ‘Australian Agri-Renewables Innovation Challenge’.
This challenge attracted multiple well thought out submissions, and six were selected by an expert panel. to progress to round two. You can read more about the successful challengers below.
This portfolio of collaborative research projects will be managed by Charles Sturt University's AgriPark on the Global Digital Farm.
These projects pilot, demonstrate, innovate, test and scale renewable energy technologies, services and practices.
Food Agility, Charles Sturt University and RACE for 2030 CRC partnered to organise the Australian Agri-Renewables Innovation Challenge to showcase new technologies and services in in areas of:
- Energy
- Fertilisers and chemicals
- Agricultural waste and residues
THE CHALLENGE THEMES
‘Challengers’ were required to pitch their product and innovation to the following challenge themes:
- How might farmers adopt renewable energy (to reduce costs and emissions while increasing sustainability, energy security and reliability)?
- How might farmers adopt renewable chemicals and fertilisers (to reduce costs and emissions while enhancing sustainability, security, and reliability?)
- How might farmers create value from organic wastes, byproducts, and residues (to reduce costs and emissions while improving sustainability and resource recovery)?
THE BENEFITS TO 'CHALLENGERS'
Successful applicants were eligible to:
- Gain 1/3 co-investment from a $2,000,000 pool
- Demonstrate and fine tune their innovation and business model in a collaborative and integrated commercial farm setting
- Tap into engaged producers, funders, researchers
- Share costs and risks of technology development
- Access feedstock, subject matter experts, lab facilities and other resources
- Amplify market exposure
THE JUDGES
- Brett Fifield, Hort Innovation CEO, brings agricultural leadership and policy experience in delivering real impact across the horticulture supply chain.
- Will Schmitt, Investment NSW Director, Programs, Partnerships & Precincts, is a global innovation expert specialising in entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Danielle Statham, Good Earth Cotton Co-Founder, is an early adopter of renewable energy and has an on-farm hydrogen hub.
- Nicole Griffin, SunRice, Head of Agribusiness – agricultural sustainability, knows a thing or two about innovation and R&D.
- Jesse Scott, Grain Corp Chief Innovation and Growth Officer, has expertise is in primary industry strategy and transformation.
- John Said, Fresh Select CEO, is experienced in strategy and business management and is driven to convert food waste into value.
THE SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGERS
Through identified six "Challengers" to work with to develop their proposals for the next stage of the initiative.
- Impacts Renewable Energy Pty Ltd
Solar thermal renewable industrial heat production to 450°C - CLEAN Bioenergy Pty Ltd
Renewable gas and fertiliser production from wet and dry ag residues - Alt-Tech
Renewable solar energy production and battery storage for emissions free water pumping - Seed to Diesel Pty Ltd
Transforming seeds into biodiesel - H2 Core Systems
Modular, transportable hydrogen powered decentralised energy generation system - University of Sydney
Accurate, compact and low-cost optical fibre methane sensor
To view the challenge terms and conditions, click here.
