Celebrating excellence in innovation, biosecurity and export across the Darling Downs
Darling Downs producers were celebrated at the first ever Darling Downs Food & Fibre Awards night.
The awards night recognised industry leaders in biosecurity, export and innovation.
TSBE Executive Director, Dr John McVeigh said the awards aimed to showcase and celebrate our region’s commitment to shaping a resilient, forward thinking and globally competitive food and fibre sector.
“We received a diverse mix of submissions, showcasing the incredible work our region is doing in biosecurity, export and innovation,” Dr McVeigh said.
2025 Darling Downs Food & Fibre award category winners are:
Innovation Award - Coggan Farms
Coggan Farms is pioneering agricultural innovation in Australia through autonomous spraying technology, virtual fencing for cattle combined with regenerative practices that boost efficiency, sustainability and animal welfare.
Biosecurity Award - Condabri Beef
Condabri Beef embeds proactive biosecurity into every aspect of its operations to protect livestock, land and people while ensuring sustainable, responsible production.
Trade and Export Award - GF Oats
GF Oats is Australia's leading supplier of gluten-free oats, distinguished by their adherence to the Global Oats Purity Protocol and growing international reputation across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
“A big congratulations to all our award winners!” Dr McVeigh said.
“We’d like to thank everyone that submitted their nominations - we truly have outstanding agribusinesses in our region.
“The Darling Downs Food and Fibre Awards celebrate the innovation, resilience and global impact of our agribusinesses, and this year’s winners show just how forward-thinking and adaptable our region truly is.
“TSBE is proud to support these businesses and continues to advocate for initiatives that strengthen our region’s leadership in sustainable agriculture, innovation adoption and global market growth. From biosecurity to export readiness, we’re committed to backing the people and ideas that keep the Darling Downs at the forefront of Australia’s food and fibre industry.”
Thank you to Western Downs Regional Council for partnering with TSBE on this event.
About our winners
Coggan Farms became the first farm to deploy an 18-metre-wide autonomous spraying platform in December of 2021 after working with SwarmFarm Robotics. Since then, the business has expanded to two autonomous machines, which have collectively sprayed over 65,000 hectares. By adopting autonomous SwarmFarm machinery, the business has reduced reliance on a shrinking rural workforce, enhanced chemical application precision, and extended spraying windows critical to time-sensitive farming operations.
Their use of Halter’s virtual fencing (the first in mainland Australia for beef cattle) has revolutionised grazing practices, enhancing pasture management without additional labour. Coggan Farms’ vertically integrated model, investment in on-farm quarantine facilities for live export, and commitment to workforce development through tech integration showcase a sustainable, scalable, and resilient farming operation.
By collaborating with technology partners and sharing knowledge across the sector, Coggan Farms is not only transforming its own business but also setting a benchmark for innovation and long-term value in the broader food and fibre industry.
At Condabri Beef, biosecurity is more than a compliance requirement - it’s a core part of how the organisation protects its cattle, land, employees and community.
Condabri Beef takes a holistic, preventative approach to biosecurity, integrating it into every stage of its operation - from livestock movements and visitor management to hygiene protocols and staff training.
They have implemented a range of proactive biosecurity measures designed to prevent risk while supporting efficient and responsible production. This includes:
· Livestock traceability and compliance
· Commodity assurance
· Digital visitor and contractor management
· Advanced monitoring at ramps and weighbridge
· Water and feed quality monitoring.
These proactive systems work together to minimise disease risk, reduce environmental impact and ensure the long-term sustainability of their operation.
GF Oats is a pioneering Australian company that provides oats specifically grown and processed to be free from contamination by wheat, rye and barley. They are the largest supplier of gluten free oats in the southern hemisphere.
GF Oats strictly adhere to the Global Oats Purity Protocol, significantly differentiating and allowing them to provide a genuinely uncontaminated product that meets a crucial health need.
They identified and filled a critical gap in the Australian market for uncontaminated oats and are now capitalising on growing global demand for healthy, gluten-free and plant-based options.
Their export journey has helped them grow into a trusted name across Australia, NZ and now Asia.
