Brisbane Welcomes World's Leading International Agritech Startups for Agventure Downunder
Brisbane will become the epicentre of global agrifood innovation this week and it welcomes the world’s leading agritech startups for Agventure Downunder, a program held as part of evokeAG. the premier agrifood tech event in the Asia-Pacific region aimed at connecting international agritech startups to the Australian agricultural ecosystem.
Supported by Mandalay Venture Partners, a Brisbane-based specialist early-stage agrifood tech venture capital firm, the program aims to accelerate the future of sustainable agriculture by connecting global innovators, showcasing transformative solutions and fostering collaborations that address critical challenges in food production.
Mandalay is dedicated to addressing critical challenges in agriculture and food production by investing in and supporting the most promising agrifood technology startups from around the globe. Their mission is to help sustainably feed the world’s growing population while advancing cutting-edge solutions for the agricultural supply chain from farm to fork.
Mandalay Managing Partner Mark Gustowski (pictured below) said the Agventure Downunder participants highlight the importance the Australian agricultural ecosystem plays across the global stage.
“To qualify for the program, the participating companies must have a clear and scalable business model with strong growth potential and evidence of market demand, and a focus on creating significant value on-farm, and supply chain and end-user impact,” he said.
“Coming from eight countries across the world, this year’s group brings new ideas that will increase crop yields and reduce herd disease while improving sustainability through reduced water use and lower carbon emissions.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the founders to Brisbane and to helping them gain valuable business insights and forge connections with key stakeholders.”
The 10 selected startups represent a diverse range of agrifood technologies, from AI-powered diagnostics and precision agriculture tools to sustainable food production methods. These innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to industry leaders, investors, and farmers, creating pathways for adoption and scaling.
“Australia has long been a nation renowned for its ingenuity, with a history of developing innovative solutions to overcome agricultural challenges,” said Mark Gustowski.
According to a CSIRO study focussed on Reshaping Australian Food Systems, Australian agricultural production is estimated to already feed 60-75 million people across domestic and export markets.
“Initiatives like Agventure Downunder build on this legacy by sharing Australia’s expertise with the world while bringing the latest global advancements to the local agrifood community. With a global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, Australia has a critical role to play in food security and food production, particularly across the APAC region,” said Mark Gustowski.
About the Agventure Downunder participants
Canada’s 4AG Robotics is revolutionising mushroom farming with its computer-vision guided and AI-powered mushroom harvesting robot that is a complete labour replacement with no residual harvesting tasks or responsibility. The robot attaches to existing farm infrastructure and its 24-hour deployment capability allows for precise harvesting.
Founded in the UK, Airponix systems use an ultra-fine nutrient fog to grow food using 95% less water than traditional agriculture. Its method is soil-, pest- and disease free, maximising yield and enhancing food security through climate-resilient, sustainable practices backed by precision IoT monitoring.
BioPollen Solutions is helping growers of specialty crops increase yields by 20% or more, using its unique assisted pollination technology that allows a plant-based liquid pollen formulation to be sprayed on multiple crops with standard equipment, replacing the use of traditional beehives. Established in Chile, the technology is now also being used by over 50 growers in Peru, Colombia and the US.
Early detection of critical herd diseases is now possible using FaunaTech’s smartphone connected, hand-held diagnostic platform. Developed in India, the technology measures important biomarkers in milk, fish, meat, poultry and grains to assess for disease, reducing the use of antibiotics and monitoring food quality at the farm gate.
Hailing from the Netherlands, FUL Foods is revolutionising food production through microalgae cultivation, using a process that captures CO₂ from industrial emissions. Their method requires no arable land, recycles up to 85% of the freshwater used and absorbs 2kg of CO₂ for each kilogram of microalgae produced.
UK-based startup Lytegro Limited has patented ‘Baclyte’, a waste-banana-derived extract that supercharges the growth of bacteria and yeast, providing a CAPEX-free solution to the global fermentation capacity shortfall. This allows producers to double output using the same infrastructure while cutting water, energy and feedstock use.
A biotech startup out of New Zealand, Mara Bio creates innovative, versatile proteins and other ingredients derived from fungi, thereby reducing the environmental impacts of dairy side streams. Their high-yield fermentation process reduces inputs, improves resilience and is not reliant on seasons, allowing for year-round production.
RHST Industries delivers effortless yet effective water conservation. Founded in Canada, the company’s “Water Pearls” turn evaporation into water droplets then send it to the ground, where it’s needed most. Virtually maintenance free, Water Pearls keep soil moist, last 50 years and reduce water input by up to 50%.
Providing natural alternatives to antibiotics and pesticides, TeOra focuses on functional feeds and disease prevention in aquaculture. This addresses a critical industry challenge, which sees 70% of farmed fish lost to disease. The Singapore-based startup’s cutting-edge bioinformatics also extends to agricultural crops and veterinary animals.
US company VIA BioFuels has developed a proprietary yeast strain which allows it to produce 3-Methylanisole (3-MA), a synthetic aromatic, at scale and high purities from feedstocks such as starch, sugar and cellulosic sugars. Their technology
