Jo Mazzocchi

In our tech-savvy world, it is hard to believe one innovation has stayed almost the same for more than 150 years. That is, until now. In extensive test-bed sites in both the United States and Israel, the beehive has been replaced with a device that is solar powered and driven by artificial intelligence and advanced robotics to monitor every single bee. Only time will tell if these next generation bees will be all they can be.

In 2020, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned the world about the fatal impact of climate change in a blog post titled: “COVID-19 is awful. Climate change could be worse.”

A game-changing online digital platform connecting the world to Australian agricultural innovation will drive investment, commercialisation and make research and development outcomes transparent for levy payers and the community. Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said growAG will showcase success stories, research projects and commercial opportunities in one centralised location.

grow^AG. is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) and Australia’s 15 Research & Development Corporations, often referred to as the RDC’s. It is the gateway to Australia’s agrifood innovation system, formalising a shared vision to showcase world leading agricultural research, unique technologies and commercialisation opportunities in one, easy to use location.

Meet the adventurous venture capitalist, Isabelle Decitre heading up Singapore’s ID Capital, whose knack for nurturing agrifood tech startups led to the creation of the Future Food Asia conference – to showcase the regions’ ever-growing talent.

Innovation can be accelerated, according to David Downs, this is one of the many things that COVID-19 has taught us.