Doug Hamilton, Innovation Specialist and Broker, recently joined a week-long WA delegation to New Zealand, exploring agtech, innovation and agrifood value chains. Organised by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and supported by Rebbeck Consulting, the tour brought together growers, startups and government to build trade, investment, innovation and R&D links across the Tasman. There was strong representation from Western Australia, including members of the Grower Group Alliance network: Western Beef (Jeisane Accioly), Western Dairy (Sue-Ellen Shaw), and Sweeter Banana (Doriana Mangili).
The group visited major research hubs like Plant & Food Research, food innovation spaces like The Food Bowl, and leading farms and vertically integrated producer, packer and exporter businesses. They also attended Fieldays, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event.
Doug observed that New Zealand farmers are quick adopters of new tech when the value is clear, with virtual fencing solutions like Halter improving both business operational efficiency and work/life balance. He was also struck by how deeply value-adding is integrated across New Zealand’s agricultural sector, from plant breeding through to premium branding, stating “New Zealand’s mix of productivity, innovation and commercialisation is exemplified by the approach of licensing new kiwifruit varieties to overseas in-market partners which provided sustaining value to growers by the reinvestment of licensing revenue back into better breeding and further market development. There’s a lot we can learn from and work on together”.
Amid this, New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem is undergoing major change, with plans to merge its seven Crown Research Institutes and disestablish Callaghan Innovation.
The trip opened new connections and potential collaborations across agtech, innovation, research and investment, both within New Zealand and beyond.
