Analysing beef cattle genomic data with the MinION device

APPLICATIONS are now open for agtech developers to engage in Beef Australia’s popular Pitch In The Paddock competition, being staged as part of next May’s Beef 2024 event in Rockhampton.

The competition offers ag-entrepreneurial talent the opportunity to present their business idea, proof of concept, prototype, or new product to the largest gathering of beef industry stakeholders, influencers, media and consumers in the Southern Hemisphere, live, and on-stage, during the Beef 2024 event.

Beef Australia CEO Simon Irwin said the Pitch In The Paddock competition, sponsored by evokeAG, presented an extraordinary chance for start-ups, visionary agtech developers, inventive minds, and innovators to pitch their product or service to a grand agricultural audience.

Eight finalists will be selected to take part in the competition at Beef2024 and will receive professional feedback on their product or service directly on stage from esteemed industry experts, giving the finalists unmatched exposure to potential investors and business experts.

The Pitch in the Paddock first took place at the 2018 event, when agtech was first starting to seriously emerge, and was repeated at Beef 2021.

“We look forward to delivering another successful Pitch In The Paddock competition in 2024 and encourage all ambitious individuals to step outside of their comfort zone and apply, for a chance to win a cash price of $10,000,” Mr Irwin said.

Queensland Agricultural minister Mark Furner said primary producers were strong adopters of AgTech because of the opportunities it presented for their businesses.

“Queensland’s appetite for agtech solutions was shown when more than 800 people attended our AgTech Showcase at the Gatton Smart Farm earlier this month,” Mr Furner said.

“Early adoption of agtech is already reaping significant benefits for our $24 billion agriculture industry. That means greater production value, greater opportunities for our producers and more good jobs in agriculture.”

AgriFutures general manager of global innovation Harriet Mellish said it was through initiatives like the Beef 2024 Pitch in the Paddock that we not only propel innovation but also contribute to the sustainable future of our agricultural industry.

“This competition not only offers a unique stage for participants to present their ideas but also facilitates direct engagement with industry experts, investors and producers providing invaluable feedback and exposure.

“The Pitch in the Paddock competition supports a thriving ecosystem where groundbreaking ideas can flourish, find support, and make a lasting impact on the future of agriculture.

“We look forward to witnessing the transformative potential that will unfold at Beef Australia 2024 and encourage all agrifood tech startups and scaleups in the beef industry to seize this opportunity.”

Applications

Applications are open now for the 2024 Pitch In The Paddock competition.

To apply, individuals must submit a 1–2-minute video providing an overview of their target audience and the potential market for their product or service that they plan to present.

Click here for further information