By the Queensland Government
Around the world, agri-food innovation sometimes struggles to move beyond early-stage ideas. Queensland is stepping forward as a place where innovation is both generated and scaled.
Over the past decade, Australia has experienced a boom in agricultural technology (AgTech). Innovations span digital, robotic, automation and technologies that drive productivity gains, backed by a diverse agricultural base, strong research capability and targeted government investment.
Queensland has deliberately built a connected and collaborative ecosystem that enables businesses to translate innovative breakthroughs into commercially-viable solutions, creating real opportunities for investors, industry, and global markets.
This systems‑based approach is reinforced through the Queensland Government’s innovation programs, empowering entrepreneurs and industry to fast‑track commercialisation, drive competitiveness and build globally relevant businesses.
The result is a pipeline of ventures that are not only technically sophisticated, but commercially grounded. In 2023, investment in AgTech grew across Australia by 141% year-on-year, outperforming global trends, with over $800 million invested annually and more than 2500 agrifood tech enterprises nationwide.
Collaboration and Innovation
At the core of Queensland’s success is its ability to connect the right players at the right time. This support goes beyond funding. It includes access to expertise, introductions to commercial partners, pilot opportunities, and exposure to domestic and international markets.
Industry organisations, such as AusAgritech and the broader Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), play a critical role in aligning innovation with industry demand. Programs delivered by industry groups like the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) provide targeted, hands-on support to emerging businesses.
Importantly, the idea is for innovation to be deeply embedded in regional Queensland, close to the producers, processors, and landscapes that ultimately shape agricultural outcomes. Across the state, a new generation of agri-food innovators are tackling challenges ranging from sustainable production to next-generation nutrition, while remaining grounded in real-world needs.
For example, Rainstick, based in Far North Queensland, offers a compelling example of how deep-tech innovation emerged from regional Australia to scale globally. The company has developed a proprietary seed treatment technology that uses controlled electric fields to mimic the natural effects of lightning. This enhances plant establishment, growth speed, and early performance without the need for chemical inputs.
What began as an experimental concept has evolved into a commercially-focused solution, validated through field trials showing measurable improvements in crop establishment and biomass. With additional support, Rainstick has refined its commercial strategy, built industry partnerships, and progressed toward market entry.
In contrast, Just Meat Protein highlights how innovation is also reshaping food manufacturing and global protein supply. Founded in 2025, the company is addressing a pressing challenge: how to meet rising protein demand without increasing resource intensity. Rather than creating a new protein source, Just Meat Protein developed a patented process to convert underutilised meat cuts into a high-quality, shelf-stable protein powder.
The result is a product that has more than 90% protein content, a complete amino acid profile, and full solubility, while also being allergen-free and neutral in flavour. Crucially, it integrates seamlessly into existing food manufacturing processes, enabling producers to increase protein content without altering formats or supply chains.
Queensland-based SwarmFarm Robotics illustrates Australia’s capacity to develop, validate and scale globally-relevant AgTech solutions. The company has pioneered a fully integrated autonomous farming system designed to lift productivity while reducing environmental impact. By designing autonomy from the ground up, SwarmFarm enables farmers to increase efficiency without increasing machinery size, lowering soil compaction, fuel use and chemical inputs.
Early investment and access to a strong agricultural innovation ecosystem were critical to the company’s success to undertake international expansion. In 2025, the company raised $30 million to accelerate growth in North America and has since deployed its robots in commercial fields across Australia and the United States. The SwarmConnect platform further enhances scalability by enabling AgTech developers and machinery manufacturers to build and integrate new applications, creating opportunities for international partnerships.
SwarmFarm’s trajectory highlights Australia’s strengths for foreign investors: deep agricultural expertise, proven trial infrastructure, strong public-private collaboration and technologies that are commercial-ready and export-oriented.
A Model for Scalable Innovation
What connects companies like Rainstick, Just Meat Protein and SwarmFarm Robotics is the environment that has enabled them to progress.
- Innovation grounded in real industry challenges
- Strong integration with existing supply chains
- Access to coordinated support networks
- Early engagement with investors and global markets
More broadly, it signals a shift in how Queensland is perceived: not only as a producer of agricultural commodities, but as a source of high-value innovation with global relevance.
Home-grown in Queensland
Queensland’s innovation advantage is also being strengthened by infrastructure that makes a difference. The state-owned Food Pilot Plant at Coopers Plains in Brisbane is an industry-accessible food pilot plant that helps to test and scale-up new food technologies.
Queensland is also home to FAN, a leading food industry cluster, and the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) at the University of Queensland that can accelerate the development of new products, technologies and food manufacturing. The ability to connect science, industry, and capital will define the next generation of opportunities. Queensland offers a blueprint for how this can be achieved: through collaboration, supported by government, and validated through real-world outcomes.
Anyone attending GAI Australia will have a front-row seat in seeing how Queensland is unlocking new value from its existing systems.
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