Jon Sandbrook

$60M Venture Capital Fund Launched to Accelerate Tech Startups in Horticulture Exciting news for Australian agriculture! Hort Innovation and Artesian (Alternative Investments) have joined forces to launch the $60 million Hort Innovation Venture Fund, the world’s first horticulture-specific VC fund. 🌱 This game-changing initiative will back early-stage startups with innovative solutions for fruit, vegetable, and nut growers, focusing on: 💡 Productivity: Harnessing AI, robotics, and satellite tech to improve efficiency. 🌍 Sustainability: Enhancing water use, reducing carbon footprints, and exploring alternative chemical solutions. 🍎 Consumption: Meeting evolving consumer demands with nutrient-rich, long-lasting, and visually appealing produce. With investments ranging from $250K to $3M, this fund is set to empower growers with fresh ideas and groundbreaking technologies. "Agriculture demands the best innovation to remain world-class," says Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield. Let’s support the future of Australian horticulture! 🌾✨ #AgTech #Innovation #Horticulture #Startups #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/gpvKfyJm

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Great to see the connection between consumer and producer starting to happen. What is regenerative you ask? Well good news - you can now find out. Backstory’s Prove solution is part of ensuring that data exists to help you better understand what it means to be buying food from farms that are in a state of regeneration.

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The TreeCoin Assets team are participanting in the fourth cohort of our Victorian AgTech Seeds program which is supporting the creation of early-stage Agtech startups by bringing together aspiring agtech entrepreneurs and researchers creating technology for the Victorian agriculture sector and beyond. Treecoin has created a system to measure carbon drawdown from trees and monetise the growers, while issuing carbon tokens for corporations who need them. Find out more information about the fourth Victorian cohort of our AgTech Seeds program on our website https://lnkd.in/gbpZmhps Demian Natakhan Luke Bonnici Angela McClowry LaunchVic Agriculture Victoria Cruxes Innovation Victorian Farmers Federation AgriFutures Australia AgriFutures growAG Jonathan Lacey Emily Chang Emma Coath Nicki Marks Will Schmitt Stuart Haines Taylor Battistella #rocketseeder #startup #entrepreneurship #founders #networking #opportunities #agtech #agrifoodtech #agriculture #agtechseeds #foodindustrytrends #entrepreneurship #commercialisation #digitalagriculture #innovation #researchtoimpact #preseed

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🛒 Will the price shock seen at supermarkets end soon? Kristi Knaack Riordan, Founder/CEO of Harvest B, doesn’t think so.  Speaking at the #AltProteins24 conference in Melbourne, Kristi explained that food inflation outpaced general inflation (CPI) for the past 16 years and expects the gap to widen because of further disruptions in global food supply chains from ongoing geopolitical instability & climate change. What can we do as a nation more insulated from global shocks? 🧑‍🌾 Local food production, like growing veggies at home and buying locally, sounds great—but let’s be realistic. Many households consume too much for this to be a viable solution at scale, and not everyone has the resources or the space to grow their own food. 🔬 This is where science and technology come into play. And while some may view it as dystopian—like something out of Soylent Green—innovations in food tech just may be part of the solution. Australia is home to some incredible companies at the cutting edge of food innovation: 🥬 Harvest B is developing blended meat and plant proteins that are more nutritious, affordable & have a lower carbon footprint. Their products are already on the market—I’ve personally tried their lamb massaman and it was delicious. 🧀 Change Foods is a precision fermentation platform technology company creating animal-free milk proteins for use in cheese and dairy. Having now scaled, they are making big strides towards commercialization 🍖 Magic Valley is pioneering high-quality lamb without traditional livestock farming —my colleague Joanna Lee and I tried their lamb in a tomato ragu and it was outstanding. The role of private markets: 🍔 Private markets play a crucial role, but we need to acknowledge the challenges. Companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat raised millions but struggled to shift enough consumers from traditional beef. Even as a pescetarian I admit that if I falter, I’d still reach for a regular beef burger over an Impossible one. ✊ That said, tomorrow doesn’t have to look like today. Bold investors—like Alberts Investible Horizon Ventures W23 Global Mandalay Venture Partners—are paving the way, investing in the future of food alongside us at Giant Leap to accelerate the future of food. Government’s critical role in securing our food future: 🌏 Government support through equity, debt, the #R&DTaxCredit scheme and grants are vital in bringing these innovations to scale with time for consumers to transition - startups need to build better links with the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, Breakthrough Victoria and Invest Victoria ❓ Lauren Morrey, Sally Mccutchan, Mary Manning if Australian #FoodTech startups are keen to access this funding - who do they get in touch with? 🙏A big thank you to Thomas King, Chair of Food Frontier, for convening the AltProteins24 conference with fellow board members Terence Jeyaretnam David Bucca

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🍎🥦 Farmers2Founders works with some incredible innovators transforming the horticulture sector. We are thrilled to see Hort Innovation partnering with Artesian (Alternative Investments) to launch a $60M venture capital fund aimed at backing cutting-edge startups and solutions in this space. 🚀 With a focus on sustainability, tech-driven solutions, and future-proofing the industry, this fund represents a game-changing opportunity for Australian entrepreneurs and farmers to scale their ideas and make a global impact. 🌏✨ Read more about this exciting development here: https://lnkd.in/gpvKfyJm #horticulture #agtech #farminnovation #madeforagtech #agtechstartup #australianag 

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🌱 Hort Innovation have just launched a world-First Horticulture Venture Capital Fund! In partnership with Artesian (Alternative Investments), this world first horticulture-focused venture capital fund has been developed to tackle rising farming costs and fast-track innovation. This $60M non-levy co-investment fund will back high-growth start-ups in automation, robotics, smart irrigation, and more—turning ideas into market-ready solutions. Part of the $500M Frontiers program, it’s all about boosting sustainability, efficiency, and market growth. Learn more here: 👉 www.frontiers.au #Innovation #Horticulture #Sustainability #TechForGood

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Exciting news for the future of agriculture! Hort Innovation, in partnership with investment firm Artesian, has launched a world-first $60 million horticulture-specific venture capital fund. This groundbreaking initiative is set to fast-track the development and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies to tackle the biggest challenges faced by fruit, nut, and vegetable growers. 🚜💡 Artesian (Alternative Investments) More here - https://lnkd.in/gsVcuwTV

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Looking to take your agritech solution to the world? Join this exclusive NZTE webinar to get an insight into today’s global agricultural landscape and the opportunities that exist for Kiwi agritech businesses. We’ll dive into the findings of an extensive global agritech research report, learn what producers and farmers are struggling with in 3 key export markets: Chile, California and Germany, and hear from the experts on how to best position your agritech solution for success. Don’t miss out – register now: https://bit.ly/4c7pWST Joshua Thomas-Goodey Emily Lynch Sarah Hindle

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NSW Farmers Young Farmer Committee chair Martin Murray on the paraquat/diquat review underway by the national chemical regulator APVMA https://lnkd.in/gHii9KM2 There's a really key point in here, aside from impacts on fossil fuel use, soil C, water run-off, and impact on natural capital assets. It's the review's very framework, it's premise. Because nearly every advisor will tell you; crop fallows are best practice when devoid of life above ground! And OK, maybe you want a flower meadow farm-scape? Sure just work out who doesn’t get to eat: of the how many hundreds of millions of people whose diet comprises Australian cereal, pulse, rice, oilseed and sugar cane industries... all at risk now until this review is made right.

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Thanks to LaunchVic for supporting us. The time is right for Natural Branding Australia to make significant impacts on fruit labelling for the following reasons: 1—There is strong awareness around single-use plastics and their detrimental impact on the environment and human health. People want to see sustainable plastic-free alternatives. 2—Laser technology has advanced significantly, offering the precision and affordability needed to replace plastic labels with environmentally-friendly options. 3—Regulatory changes are on the horizon that will soon ban single-use plastic fruit labels: "The International Fresh Produce Association Australia & New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ) says it supports a national approach to banning plastic non-compostable Price Look-Up code (PLU) produce stickers" If you’d like more information about Natural Branding Australia's mission, or you're in the industry and want to connect, send Adam Chrimes a message, and let’s catch up! #Sustainability #NaturalBranding #PLU #LaunchVic #FreshProduce #PlasticFree #AgTech #Innovation #EnvironmentalImpact Quote from: https://t.ly/hKqIO

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In an increasingly turbulent global ag market, it is more important than ever to understand the driving forces behind the market and how supply, demand, and price dynamics impact Australian ag businesses.📉 🌾🐄 In this weeks episode of Unpacking Ag, we examine what is having the highest impact on ag markets and discuss the latest findings from the Agriculture Outlook report for 2025. 🗨️ We unpack how the six primary agricultural commodities are expected to perform from a supply, demand, and price perspective, and the role of the climate and carbon space and the impact they are expected to have on ag in 2025. 🐑🌲 Listen now via your favourite podcast app, or visit our website for more information. 🎧👇 https://lnkd.in/gZtqrf-8 #RuralBank #UnpackingAg #Agribusiness #Podcast

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Are you ready to make a real impact on the Australian agriculture sector? 🌾 Farmers2Founders is excited to announce that they have launched a new agtech program pathway 🎉   Working directly with QLD agtech and foodtech start-ups, F2F will deliver their flagship pre-accelerator program for early-stage founders, their accelerator program designed for Pre-seed or Series A Australian agtech businesses with high potential for scalability and global expansion 🚀   The F2F pathway, designed to meet each founder's individual needs at any stage, will benefit 40 QLD start-ups in total! 👉The pre-accelerator program will focus on the fundamentals of growing and scaling a business, supporting early-stage start-ups from prototype to MVP. 👉The later-stage accelerator will cover content such as business model design and go-to-market strategy. Matching the founders with expert mentors, advisors, customers, and partners to prepare them to pitch to the VCDF Partner Venture Capitalists.   To learn more about eligibility and the application process 👉 More about the Accelerator > https://bit.ly/3yvR0MZ More about the Pre-accelerator > https://bit.ly/44UqJnD  

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Keith Savin PhD from Data Biome is one of the 9 participants in the fourth cohort of our Victorian AgTech Seeds program which is supporting the creation of early-stage Agtech startups by bringing together aspiring Agtech entrepreneurs and researchers creating technology for the Victorian agriculture sector and beyond. Data Biome is developing a probiotic for cows that will reduce their methane output by slightly altering their digestion metabolism, utilising bacterial species naturally found in the rumen of cows. Initially, the customers will be dairy farmers wanting to reduce their on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. Find out more information about the fourth Victorian cohort of our AgTech Seeds program on our website https://lnkd.in/gbpZmhps LaunchVic Agriculture Victoria Cruxes Innovation Victorian Farmers Federation AgriFutures Australia AgriFutures growAG Jonathan Lacey Emily Chang Emma Coath Nicki Marks Will Schmitt Stuart Haines Taylor Battistella #rocketseeder #startup #entrepreneurship #founders #networking #opportunities #agtech #agrifoodtech #agriculture #agtechseeds #foodindustrytrends #entrepreneurship #commercialisation #digitalagriculture #innovation #researchtoimpact #preseed

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$60 million venture fund to back emerging technology ideas.  The Hort Innovation Venture Capital Fund is supporting early-stage start-ups that are developing cutting-edge technologies in automation, robotics, smart irrigation, and advanced breeding. Target : 20-30 businesses over the next five years. Key focus areas include: Healthy Living – driving improved consumption of fruits and veggies Adaptation & Resilience – supporting sustainable farming practices Market Growth - innovation and product development Disruptive Technologies – AI and automation to boost productivity Capability building - Ensuring the sustainability of the workforce The Hort Innovation Venture Capital Fund is a partnership between Hort Innovation and Artesian Venture Partners. For more info: https://lnkd.in/gxvCek6P frontiers.au #HorticultureInnovation #Sustainability #AgTech #FutureOfFarming #SMEs #Businessgrants

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🥛🇳🇿 New Zealand's Dairy Industry: A Pillar of Economic Strength Despite global challenges, New Zealand's dairy exports continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience: Decades-long cornerstone of the national economy Showing buoyancy in the face of pandemic disruptions Poised to weather potential downturns in East Asian markets What's your take on the future of NZ's dairy sector? How can other industries learn from its adaptability? https://lnkd.in/gFwyqbcW #NewZealandEconomy #DairyIndustry #GlobalTrade #EconomicResilience

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AusAgritech is mapping the entire national ecosystem of Agritech and is inviting industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to participate in the 2024 Australian Agritech Sector Survey. The aim of this survey is to gain valuable insights into Australia’s agritech ecosystem—understanding the current landscape, key growth drivers, challenges, and the future trajectory of the sector. By sharing your perspective, you’ll play a key role in helping AusAgritech advocate, connect, and lobby for the continued success of the agritech industry. Your input will shape AusAgritech's advocacy efforts and contribute to upcoming reports and initiatives. Closing soon. https://lnkd.in/gt7dhqUS TasFarmers TAS Farm Innovation Hub Enterprize Tasmania Regional Australia Institute Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture University of Tasmania

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Connecting AgriTech innovation to the Agricultural Industry is a big focus for me and our work at the SA AgriTech Meetup group. This is why the meetup group is a member of Ag Excellence Alliance, who held their forum in Adelaide yesterday, which was attended by 15 grower groups from across South Australia. The forum focused on emission reductions in agriculture and the practical work that grower groups undertake to facilitate trails, education programs and research projects. There was strong interest in AgriTech to provide new tools to inform emissions compliance, as well as sustainable alternatives to inputs that are under increasing regulatory control. I believe that grower groups are a core part of the trust and education equation that is critical to adoption of AgriTech, so I encourage AgriTech companies to consider how they will engage and support grower groups in developing their go to market strategies. #agriculture #AgExForum2024 #Agritech AusAgritech

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Yesterday's astounding 30% vote in favour of the shareholder resolution on reporting the environmental impact of salmon farming at Woolworths Group, moved by Sustainable Investment Exchange and Neighbours of Fish Farming, is a clear indication that nature risk is not on the horizon, it is here, now, for any company with material nature dependencies (that's half of the economy). Companies are quickly learning that all economic activity occurs within ecosystems, and that damage to nature is ubiquitous and economically ruinous. It's time to move to a circular and regenerative economy to halt and reverse nature loss and return on a pathway to sustainability - this goes well beyond greenhouse gas emissions. There will also be increased scrutiny on food retailers and financial institutions to uncover what they are doing to tackle deforestation, which is essential to any climate plan and a clear first step on nature. Woolworths' claim that it was waiting for government action out of prudence lacks sense: the prudent course of action when it comes to a species on the brink of extinction is to act. https://lnkd.in/g9iJZtVy

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The cap on international students means fewer startup founders and less employee talent for early stage startups in Australia. The risk appetite it takes to uproot your life and move to another country to study is exactly the mindset that drives people to take the risk to start (or join) a new company. I talked about this in a recent podcast with Will Richards where we discussed the impact of the controversial cap on international students and what it could mean for Australia’s startup ecosystem, universities, and economy. Full conversation from the ~24 minute mark here: https://lnkd.in/gNsH46VN UNSW Founders #entrepreneurship

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