Catalyst: an event or person that causes great change
How lucky am I to work alongside such trailblazing innovators? For the past eight weeks, I've been working with the inaugural AgriFutures growAG Catalyst cohort, seven amazing women in agrifood tech and innovation from across Australia and New Zealand.
Did you know that women currently represent only 15% of the STEM workforce despite participation increasing by 68% since 2012? This is why the Catalyst program has been designed. To identify innovators with exceptional research or technology innovations ready for commercialisation and provide them with a platform to access the next stage of development.
Last night, the cohort pitched their work to investors and potential partners. For those who couldn't make it, each of our cohorts' opportunities are now online 👉
Here is a wrap-up of what we heard last night:
Fiona Turner , CEO and Co-Founder, Bitwise Agronomy
🍇 Bitwise Agronomy uses AI and machine learning to help farmers improve forecasting and reduce costs by analysing video footage of crops.
Aarti Tobin, Science Lead, Just Meat Co, CSIRO
🥩 Just Meat Co (JMC) is a food ingredient company creating high-protein meat powder to enhance the nutritional profile of various products.
Nasim Amiralian, Group Leader, Bio-Inspired Materials Group, The University of Queensland
♻ Bio-Inspired Materials Group has developed a fully bio-based and biodegradable bioplastic from sugarcane trash and demonstrated its effectiveness as packaging materials.
Kerstin Petroll, Chief Technology Officer, HydGene Renewables
🌏 HydGene Renewables transforms waste biomass into green hydrogen using innovative biocatalyst technology.
Nikki Davey, Co-Founder and CEO, Grown Not Flown
🌸 Grown Not Flown is an online marketplace connecting small-scale flower farmers and producers with consumers.
Sam Sneddon, CEO, WollemAI
📈 WollemAI is the first AI and machine learning solution that measures and reports on emissions from land and agriculture.
Tanushree B Gupta, Senior Scientist, AgResearch
🐄 AgResearch is currently working on trial validation using a bioactive compound to reduce the incidences of facial eczema in animals.
Through the Catalyst journey, it has been a pleasure to work with all seven innovators and support them in presenting at an exclusive event. Last night was the culmination of our work, as each innovator pitched their innovations with potential stakeholders.