Mobilising Women’s Talent for the Future of Agrifood-Tech

The food and agriculture system is in motion, reshaped daily by climate change, demographic shifts, volatile trade patterns and the breakneck speed of technology. The question is not whether Agrifood-tech will change, but how and who will lead us into this future.

From robotics and automation to biotech, data analytics and digital agriculture, Agrifood-tech is fast becoming one of the most dynamic sectors of our economy. Australia, with its diversity of climate zones, strong research base and export reputation, is well placed to lead. But technology alone is not enough. New skills, bold ideas and crucially diverse perspectives will be required.

At F2F TEKWOMEN, we believe women are central to this story. That is why we have launched two new programs in Queensland: Agri-Rise and Agri-Elevate. Together, they are designed to mobilise and connect women across generations, disciplines and regions to shape the future of Agrifood-tech.

Agri-Rise: Sparking the Next Generation

Agri-Rise brings together 33 young women from across Queensland, each drawn by curiosity about where they might fit within the future of food and agriculture. The program is deliberately more than a series of lessons; it is an invitation to possibility. Participants are exposed to the full Agrifood-tech landscape [robotics, digital agriculture, food innovation, sustainability], while being encouraged to imagine their own place within it. Guiding this journey is a group of Agri-Rise Ambassadors, inspiring young women who help co-design the program over the next 12 months. Their involvement ensures that the voices of young women are not just included, but central. By shaping pathways, influencing support and amplifying opportunities, they are showing that leadership is not something that begins later; it begins now.

As Gui Beltramin from Trade and Investment Queensland put it: “Innovation is flowing into new hotspots around the globe. Queensland is positioned to be a leader, but only if we attract and mobilise talent into these opportunities. Agri-Rise is exactly that, a call for fresh ideas, for passion rooted in sustainability and for a new generation fluent in both digital skills and care for the land.

Agri-Elevate: Experience in Action

Running alongside Agri-Rise is Agri-Elevate: a program designed for 13 accomplished women already making their mark in business, agriculture, research, policy and professional services. Their task is not to start from scratch but to step into portfolio careers in Agrifood-tech: as board members, advisors, fractional executives, investors or executives-in-residence with startups.

Agri-Elevate is about translation; taking years of professional expertise and converting it into credibility, guidance and impact for a sector in need of both leadership and momentum. As Monica Bradley, founder of Purposeful Capital, reminds us: “Networks and communities matter just as much as technology. The ecosystems we build in Agrifood-tech are what create real impact. In other words, Agri-Elevate is less a classroom and more a bridge: one that carries wisdom across disciplines, connects leaders with innovators, and turns experience into fuel for change.

Insights Emerging

Even in these early stages, both programs are surfacing lessons that feel vital:

Systems thinking matters. Mapping the agrifood value chain from pre-farm inputs to post-consumer flows revealed how only by seeing the whole can we understand where the opportunities lie.

Technology adoption is never just about tools. Patchy connectivity, risk-averse cultures and ill-fitting solutions often block innovation. Successful adoption depends on partnerships, fit-for-purpose design and trust.

Capital flows differently here. Agrifood-tech rarely moves at the pace of software. Long development cycles and regulatory hurdles require funding models beyond venture capital.

Skills are shifting. The “Five C’s” framework: care, computing, cognitive ability, communication and climate signals the hybrid expertise the next generation will need.

Global must meet local. As Fleur Anderson from Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries noted: “Innovation must connect back to communities and regional realities. If we don’t ground new ideas in the lived experience of our regions, they won’t create the impact we need.

A Bridge Between Generations

Taken together, Agri-Rise and Agri-Elevate form a continuum. One brings fresh curiosity; the other channels experience. Curiosity meets wisdom. Energy meets guidance. And between them lies a bridge that connects generations, industries and regions. As Lea Diffey of Diffey Consulting observed: “The scale of opportunity in Agrifood-tech innovation is immense and Queensland is incredibly well placed to lead.”

An Invitation

Building the future of Agrifood-tech will take more than programs. It will take an ecosystem of mentors, industry leaders, investors and communities willing to engage. That is why we are inviting partners to join us:

• Mentor > share your insights and experience.

• Host > open your doors for site visits, lectures or panels.

• Support > collaborate with our Ambassadors to ensure young women’s voices remain in focus.

• Champion > amplify these stories and invite others into the conversation.

Register here to get involved

With Agri-Rise and Agri-Elevate, F2F TEKWOMEN is not only creating opportunities but planting the seeds that will grow into the next generation of women leaders, innovators and change makers who will define the future of Agrifood-tech.