- Launched by Beanstalk AgTech in collaboration with the Grower Group Alliance (GGA) and the Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA), the PropaGATE landing pad connects the world’s best AgTech solutions with Western Australian farmers and industries.
- The inaugural challenge focuses on finding sustainable ways to treat brewery wastewater, aiming to improve water reuse and reduce nutrient runoff.
- Over 40 global innovators applied, and four have been selected to travel to Perth to collaborate directly with local brewers.
PERTH, WA — Western Australia’s first AgTech-focused landing pad, PropaGATE, is bringing global innovation to the state’s doorstep, connecting international solutions with local industries to address real-world challenges, starting with wastewater in beer production.
Launched earlier this year, the landing pad program is led by Beanstalk AgTech and supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and the Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA).
PropaGATE demonstrates how Australia can benefit from landing pad models that foster cross-sector collaboration. In just six months, it has established a platform for international AgTech innovators to engage with local businesses and pilot new solutions on the ground.
PropaGATE’s inaugural challenge addressed a critical issue in the brewing sector: wastewater management. After extensive engagement with Western Australian breweries, it became clear that brewing just one litre of beer can require up to eight litres of water, contributing to a significant water-use footprint. In response, PropaGATE issued a global innovation challenge, calling for solutions that treat and reuse wastewater more sustainably.
More than 40 applications were received from over 15 countries. Four leading solutions were selected, and the innovators will travel to Perth to participate in a showcase event at FIPWA on 6 August, where they will connect directly with breweries for potential trials and partnerships.
“PropaGATE reflects what’s possible when we align global innovation with local industry needs,” said Jolien Paalman, Principal at Beanstalk. “By identifying shared challenges and building a landing pad to source solutions and trial them in the local environment, we’re accelerating real impact for agriculture and food systems in Western Australia.”
PropaGATE is an ongoing program designed to position Western Australia as a hub for AgTech innovation.
“With this collaborative effort, we’ve deliberately focused on scale-ready technology solutions that can address real challenges facing Western Australia’s industries. By facilitating local, on-the-ground trials, we’re not only solving pressing problems but also accelerating tech-driven business growth—firmly aligning with the Government’s ‘Made in WA’ policy plank,” said Dr Chris Vas, General Manager of FIPWA.
“This is about more than solving one challenge – it’s about unlocking new ways of working,” said Dr Jo Wisdom, Director of the SW WA Hub. “Through PropaGATE, we’re connecting the right innovations to the right industries and opening up Western Australia as a dynamic testbed for agricultural technology.”
The four selected solutions for wastewater management in beer production are:
- Algaesys (Western Australia) – Uses algae to treat wastewater and recover resources like bio-methane and soil conditioners.
- Aqualys Water Technologies (India) – Provides advanced water purification using ozonolysis and visible light-based photocatalysis.
- Hydroleap (Singapore/Victoria) – Offers electrochemical water treatment that reduces chemical use and improves sustainability.
- Moleaer (USA) – Uses nanobubble technology to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency and reduce chemical and energy use.
A second challenge is currently being scoped and is set to launch later this year, targeting the next major opportunity for innovation in agriculture.
For more information about PropaGATE, visit: https://www.beanstalkagtech.com/propagate
What is a Landing Pad?
A Landing Pad is a structured program designed to attract and integrate innovative solutions into a targeted market. It acts as a bridge between technological challenges and both local and global innovations, enabling them to enter the market in a strategic and supported way. The goal is to create a seamless, incentivised pathway for new technologies to be introduced, validated, and adopted within the region.
