Twenty producer groups awarded funding to support technology adoption journey

The pilot program will work with established producer groups to deliver a bespoke technology workshop, as well as other activities, to trial technology solutions and kick start adoption across the member base.

Up to $20,000 in funding was awarded to a diverse range of producer groups to help overcome known barriers to technology adoption, including digital literacy, lack of understanding on the potential return on investment, and overall appetite for technology.

AgriFutures Australia Manager, Innovation, Ulicia Raufers said interest in the pilot program was staggering, highlighting the agricultural sector’s enthusiasm to harness the benefits of technology.

“The diversity of applicants exceeded our expectations and we’re thrilled with the response,” said Ms Raufers.

“The program is first and foremost about meeting the needs of local producers. Workshops will offer producers a practical pathway to evaluate the role and value of new technology in their farming operations.”

The successful producer group activities span innovation field days and robotic harvest solutions, to building local sensor networks and digital irrigation monitoring, to name a few. A major focus for all producer groups will be assessing return on investment when it comes to selecting technology solutions for farm businesses.

Key to the program will be a centrally-designed and facilitated workshop for producer groups to attend locally. The workshops are designed to share practical information, decision-making tools and resources.

Ms Raufers said producers will walk away from the workshops with a personalised farm technology plan, including relevant solutions to their farming system and importantly, steps to implementation.

“The individual activities aim to arm producers with the knowledge to become technology adopters which will help speed up decision making, create labour savings and improve market access, amongst other benefits for their farm businesses,” said Ms Raufers.

Workshops will be rolled out between July 2021 and May 2022.