Australian farm robot business among shortlist for international startup competition

Five Australian startups — including a field robotics company and a maker of sustainable packaging based on crustacean shells — have made the shortlist for Rabobank’s international food and agri FoodBytes program.

A total of 45 companies were selected from 14 countries. Of these, the best 15 will make their live-streamed pitch on December 2. 

The five Australian finalists are:

• Food tech business Carapac (NSW) – makers of a durable, home-compostable alternative to plastic packaging made from crustacean shells
• Field robotics company Agerris (NSW) – commercialising robotic agricultural equipment and AI solutions for on-farm operations and sustainability
• SWAN Systems (WA) – precision irrigation and fertiliser platform to help growers precisely schedule, monitor and report on smarter resource management (water and nutrient consumption) to improve economic and environmental outcomes
• ProAgni (NSW) – makers of antibiotic and ionophore-nutrition products for sheep and cattle that contribute to ethical and sustainable animal production and industry performance and
• I Am Grounded (Queensland) – business upcycling discarded coffee fruit into sustainable snack products.

Rabobank Australia’s Nathalie Gibson said that the five, “demonstrate ground-breaking new approaches in agtech, foodtech and consumer food and beverages, in areas including animal health, regenerative agriculture, on-farm robotics, advanced nutrition, sustainable packaged and plant-based and up-cycled ingredients.”

Three winners will be selected through the competition — one each from the CPG, food tech and agri categories — and gain a $10,000 cash prize plus other support.

Picture: Agerris

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