We’re so excited to announce the 18 producers in our third Ideas Program, selected from more than 50 applications around Australia - our most applications ever!
The Ideas Program is our 3 month program for producers with an idea for a new venture, whether in value-adding to their food and fibre, or commercialising agtech such as hardware, IoT or software. Teams join the program to learn the 'skills of starting up' and test whether their idea is worth pursuing.
The range of applications we received to this program was phenomenal, ranging from fruit liquors and reusable egg cartons to irrigation automation and on-farm pyrolysis. With so many applications, it was a tough process to get down to our final selection, and hard to have to say no to so many great applicants.
Our Ideas Program 3 producers come from farms all over Victoria, NSW, SA and Queensland, representing everything from cattle and grains to sugarcane and honeybees. Eight of our eighteen producers are female, and our youngest participant Ollie is participating in the program on the side of his Year 11 commitments!
Some of the producers & coaches at the virtual kickoff in September
Just two weeks in, the teams are already kicking goals - speaking to potential customers, understanding their market and developing their ideas further. We can’t wait to see what they learn and create over the next 12 weeks.
Check out a short description of each team and the idea they are exploring below, and follow along on our social media for progress updates and features on the teams!
Alex Newell & Xavier Phyland (NSW/VIC): affordable remote chem batching for broadacre farms
Aimee Kalleske (SA): Preservative free bread, crackers and other grain products
Annabelle Cleeland (VIC): Super-fine merino bedding for allergy management
Charlie Lange (QLD): Cover crop crimper roller & planter in one
Colin Dyer (VIC): Record keeping app for farm management
Dylan Kalleske (SA): Single malt ‘estate-grown’ whiskey and beer
Graeme Cox (QLD): AI powered forecasting for farm decision optimization
Hannah Dabinett & Samantha Parish (SA/VIC): Functional and flattering farm workwear for women
John French (QLD): Ready-made dahl meal pouches
Leisa Sams (QLD): Dry powdered honey for use in food and cosmetics
Luke Chaplain & Sarah and Fred Hughes (QLD): UAV for livestock mustering
Michelle Edwards (VIC): Gut health food made from fermented Daisy Yam
Ollie H (VIC): Farm management software for mixed farmers
Sophie Maurice (NSW): Collagen supplements targeting the signs of ageing
Teams in the Ideas Program are supported by our RDC sponsors AgriFutures, MLA and GRDC.
If you’d like to know more about any of the teams and their ideas, please reach out and we would be happy to connect you.
For more information on the Ideas Program, check out the program page. Our next Ideas Program will run in March 2021 - make sure to subscribe to the F2F newsletter to be notified when applications open!