EDITOR'S NOTE
I’ve been writing about Industry 4.0 for many
years, but as technological advancements
speed up at evolutionary pace – thinks get
smaller, efficiencies get greater – we are now
seeing manufacturers hunt for ways to become
more efficient and cleaner. Industry 4.0 has its
roots in just such soil.
The connected factory… everything
communicating seamlessly… its Orwellian in
the head but very real on the scene. Scaling
has often been a barrier to entry, but not
anymore. Read all about where the future
of Industry 4.0 heads with valuable input
from experts within organisations including
Callaghan Innovation.
The ear low to the pavement is that there’s
plenty to be gained…
CHIT CHAT
Over 60 Kiwi
companies
attended evokeAG
to create export
and partnership
opportunities and build on New
Zealand’s reputation as a leading
agricultural innovator.
The event focussed on innovation
in agriculture, drawing delegates
from the entire agriculture
ecosystem from across the Asia
Pacific region and internationally.
The trip was led by Callaghan
Innovation in partnership with
NZTE, Agritech New Zealand, the
Ministry of Business, Innovation
and Employment (MBIE) and the
Ministry for Primary Industries.
The New Zealand startup sector
for agritech and new food has
been ranked in the top 10 in the
world and has the potential to
become a multi-billion-dollar
sector by 2025 says Simon
Yarrow, Callaghan Innovation’s
Agritech group manager.
“We’ve got a strong mix of
Kiwi startups, larger firms,
research institutes, investors,
commercialisation experts, and
ecosystem connectors joining
our mission this year,” says
Yarrow.
“That’s a reflection of New
Zealand’s agritech ecosystem
being more advanced than most,
though still young.
“We’re seeing real potential
for global success in robotics
and automation, cloud-based
platforms to manage day-to-day
tasks, environmentally friendly
pesticides and fertilisers, and
visual artificial intelligence for
animal health.
“But what we don’t have is
access to the same level of
investment and global channels
to market. It’s why our innovators
need to go the extra mile to build
these global partnerships.”
The group of innovators and
leaders met with investors,
visited research institutes and
farms in the Mildura region
while confirming their products
and strategies in the Australian
market.
Trade commissioner Vanessa
O’Neill says New Zealanders
have always had the ability to
turn local agritech solutions into
global success stories.
“That means accelerating the
growth of agritech innovations
from Kiwi start-ups into scalable,
investable and global companies.
“Global partnerships are second
nature in New Zealand business.
As Australia is New Zealand’s
largest two-way trading partner
it makes sense to look for
opportunities to work together
and take our agritech advantages
to the rest of the world. Proven
agritech innovations from New
Zealand, boosted by Australian
resources and networks, are a
winning combination in global
markets.” says O’Neill.
New Zealand speakers included
Mitali Purohit from Callaghan
Innovation, David Downs from
NZTE, Darryn Keiller from
Autogrow, Steve Saunders from
Robotics Plus and Dean Tilyard
from The Factory.
THINK CHANGE,
GET READY… INDUSTRY 4.0…
KIWI TECH
ON THE BIG
STAGE
Greg Robertson
New Zealand innovators
and leaders showcased
their technologies on the
world stage at a highprofile
international event
recently in Melbourne.
www.foodtechnology.co.nz 3
/www.foodtechnology.co.nz
