NSW DPI Global Ag-tech Eco-System (The GATE) with delivery partners The Growth Drivers (TGD) have been awarded a gold accolade in the Good Design Awards, Design Strategy category, for outstanding design in enhancing the Global Ag-tech Eco-system programs to provide strategic tools to farmers to be more competitive.
DPI Deputy Director General Infrastructure and Business, Brett Fifield has proudly acknowledged this achievement as worthy recognition of how DPI are working with a range of partners to lead in innovative approaches to encouraging the development of NSW Ag tech for primary industries.
“The GATE has been partnering with other leaders in the Ag-tech investment and innovation since 2018, to deliver incubation and accelerator programs that help fast-track the adoption of agricultural research and technology, resulting in increased productivity, with the ultimate aim of getting these innovations into the operational toolkits of our farmers” Mr Fifield said.
The GATE engaged TGD to help refresh and redesign the GATE programs, creating a more bespoke experience that enables the programs to be more accessible for participants in regional and remote areas of Australia.”
“The refreshed design of GATE offerings has meant the team could identify new ways of delivering program outcomes for its customers and in making this pivot the GATE has successfully fostered the incubation of 9 new ventures, with over 20 researchers and entrepreneurs learning new innovation and skills to improve their business performance”.
Participants in the GATE programs including start-up businesses and research teams, are enabled to identify ways to increase their ROI potential, solidify connections with stakeholders and customers, and deliver impact to the Australian and global agriculture sectors. The GATE teams, having run programs since 2018 identified an opportunity to refresh the design and delivery of the GATE service offering to meet innovators and consumers changing needs.
“The real impact has been in how researchers and entrepreneurs can make their research and technology more accessible to customers, attracting a more diverse array of investors, partners and clients – more effectively cultivating and developing ag-tech ideas to increase productivity for NSW farmers and primary producers, ” Mr Fifield said.
The GATE – located at the Orange Agricultural Institute – has been fostering business ideas for four years now, with 55 projects guided through, attracting more than $80 million of investment and catalysing more than 100 Australian jobs.