Ag-tech answers a click away
23 August 2019
Australian producers can search, sort and compare hundreds of available AgTech products with just a few clicks of the mouse thanks to a new digital platform supported by MLA.
The AgTech Finder platform – agtechfinder.com – is an independent site featuring more than 230 products from ag-tech companies of all sizes, including established and emerging solution providers from throughout Australia and overseas.
An initiative of Food Agility CRC, AgTech Finder is supported by MLA, National Farmers’ Federation, IAG, AgriFutures and KPMG.
Designed with and for producers, AgTech Finder allows producers to search based on industry, then drill down to the problem they want to solve.
Product listings include pricing model, installation process, compatibility with other products, who owns the data, and more.
Friday Feedback spoke with MLA General Manager - MDC, Research, Development and Innovation, Sean Starling, about AgTech Finder.
Q: Why and how did MLA support AgTech Finder’s development and how will it help red meat producers?
A: Three years ago, MLA was being requested to fund a substantial number of IoT (Internet of Things) device developments. At that time, MLA had no ability to easily ascertain if a request was something new or if various versions of the device concept were already available on the market from domestic and global solution providers.
To this end, MLA staff invested 60–100 hours researching the internet to develop its own unofficial list whilst simultaneously trying to understand if the technology was ready for market deployment and the type of connectivity required.
AgTech Finder fast-tracks this process taken by MLA to the benefit of both Australian producers and Australian Rural Research and Development Corporations who are continually being requested to fund new (or not so new) ideas.
Solution providers now self-nominate the solutions they have that are ready for market deployment and provide both a brief on how their solutions work and connect, and soon, case studies of satisfied customers.
Q: What’s on the horizon for AgTech Finder?
A: There are several new offerings on the AgTech Finder that are pending, including ‘Ask an expert’, where producers (and solution providers) can post questions about anything to do with AgTech solutions. AgTech Finder will draw on a range of global experts to both answer these questions and also provide a monthly FAQ summary to AgTech Finder subscribers.
Many more end-user case studies will also be available. Currently, a few examples are provided, however more will follow and will also provide the ability for producers to hear from other producers and learn as a collective.
Producers will also soon be able to post requests for quotes and information. A producer who has decided to invest and deploy solutions for their business will be able to post a terms of reference on the AgTech finder site for solution provides to bid against.
