Horticulture growers are bringing the future to their farms, trialling wearable exoskeleton technology. The aim? To reduce physical strain on workers and lift productivity around the most demanding on‑farm tasks. Launched today by Hort Innovation, the new Frontiers project will test how exoskeleton “exosuits” can support workers carrying out repetitive and physically intensive horticulture jobs,…
Australia’s horticulture sector is strengthening its global competitiveness as the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) completes its second year. “FASTA is building the evidence, tools and capability that underpin Australia’s access to high value markets. In just two years, we’re seeing tangible outcomes that will benefit growers for decades to come,” Hort Innovation GM…
Hort Innovation Frontiers, in partnership with Startupbootcamp, is pleased to announce the ten innovators selected for the upcoming Australian-Grown Innovation Build Program. The Build Program marks the next stage of the Australian-Grown Innovation pathway, supporting promising solutions to move from concept development into practical testing with industry. Across the program, participants will work with growers,…
We’re excited to announce Australian-Grown Innovation’s first Incubate cohort of 2026! 🌱 These innovative participants will go through a 6-week program designed to bridge the gap between a great horticultural idea and a market-ready solution. Interested in learning about how the program can help your business grow? Register here: https://luma.com/australiangrowninnovation
PlasmaLeap Technologies, the Australian company pioneering zero-emissions production of ammonia and nitric acid, said its recent A$30 million ($21 million) fundraising shows strong support for technology that can safeguard fertiliser supply from leading Australian agribusinesses and industry organisations. The Series A round attracted investment from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Hort Innovation, and GrainCorp…
PlasmaLeap YEAR INVESTED 2026 INVESTMENT THEME Adaptation and resilience Disruptive technologies Challenge Australia’s horticulture sector remains exposed to global volatility in nitrogen fertiliser markets. Price shocks, supply chain disruptions and a dependence on fossil fuel-based ammonia production create operational and financial uncertainty for growers. At the same time, increasing expectations around emission reduction and cleaner…
Agovor, a New Zealand founded horticultural robotics company, has closed a pre-seed funding round, raising AU$3 million. The round has been led by Tenacious Ventures with co-investment coming from Hort Innovation Australia via the Hort Innovation Investment Fund, managed by Artesian, and from an individual investor via the Active Investor Plus (AIP) scheme facilitated by Invest New Zealand.…
BioScout YEAR INVESTED 2025 INVESTMENT THEME Adaptation and resilience Disruptive technologies Challenge Airborne fungal diseases are a major threat to global agriculture, causing an estimated US$80 billion in crop losses each year. For growers, the challenge is that the most effective time to apply fungicides is during the early, symptomless stage of infection—yet traditional detection…
Today the first cohort of Australian-Grown Innovation ‘Incubate’ participants was announced at a Hort Connections breakfast in Brisbane. This follows the launch of the program in March this year, which saw 72 participants from across the horticulture supply chain involved in engagement sessions held around the country. The ‘Incubate’ cohort, which is made up of 14 growers, will participate…
