Investors explore 12 new ideas at Toowoomba for FLA's AgTech Investment Forum

Investors, entrepreneurs, international speakers and onlookers are set to explore innovation potential in the agricultural technology and innovation space at the upcoming 400M AgTech Investment forum in Toowoomba.

There are 12 ideas ready for investment, with pitches covering livestock, horticulture, broadacre farming, supply-chain and more at the event. 

400M is an event to inspire the wider region, and companies within it, to think differently, expand on an idea, and explore commercial potential.

FLA is ensuring one of Australia's largest agricultural regions is on the front foot of this AgTech wave.

What does 400M actually mean? In truth, all good innovation is about solving a problem, and at 400M, we explore how we can best utilize the finite resource of 400 million hectares of arable land.

The program is not just about the pitches, but also the success stories of leaders in the industry.

Food Leaders Australia CEO Ben Lyons said after the success of last year’s event, the 2017 offering would highlight projects seeking to commercialise and seek investors. 

“The idea is to get this type of initiative and conversations going across the country to increase productivity across Australia,” Dr Lyons said. 

Investors are looking to AgTech as a growing sector over the next decade, with AgFunder’s 2016 report highlighting $3.23billion of venture investment globally.

“At 400M you may see a pitch from the next Uber in livestock logistics, the next payWave for harvest contractors or perhaps an Airbnb for agistment.”

“There’s a small but growing community in AgTech investment in Australia as well as growing interest from overseas investors."

“We’ve got some great agtech capability in this region, with AgDNA, AgDATA, Farmscan Ag, TTQ,  CSIRO, and of course the University of Southern Queensland’s Institute for Agriculture and the Environment. FKG’s Pulse Data centre is also going to be a key piece of infrastructure for the region going forward.“

The event will be held on May 18 at the Armitage Centre, Empire Theatre.

ABC Landline presenter Pip Courtney will be the conference MC. 

400M event sponsors include NAB, BlueSky and FKG.

Book here.