evokeAG attracts international business and investment interest to South Australia

For the first time, the largest agtech conference in the Asia Pacific, evokeAG, was held in South Australia, attracting international business and investment interest to the state as the event connected the agrifood innovation community from around the world.

Connecting Australian inventors, world-leading research, unique technologies, commercialisation opportunities and collaborators, evokeAG featured more than 1,500 delegates and nine international delegations that participated in a range of forums highlighting the latest agrifood tech occurring in Australia.

The sold-out event ran from 21 to 22 February and Invest SA within the Department for Trade and Investment, hosted a satellite program as part of evokeAG to showcase South Australia’s ecosystems and capability for attracting investment to international representatives.

The program for the day focused on sustainable agriculture and alternative proteins.

The morning session featured sessions on investing in South Australia’s green credentials and sustainability, with speakers including:

· Professor Ian Overton, CE of Green Industries SA speaking on advancing the circular economy;

· Sam Crafter, CEO of the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia speaking on how South Australia is leading the way in renewables;

· Emma Winslow, Climate and Adaptation Officer, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) focussing on the carbon farming roadmap for South Australia; and

· Chris Wood, Executive Director, Invest SA chairing a panel on the road to net zero emissions in a global world.

The afternoon session, opened by the Agent General for South Australia – UK and Europe, the Honourable David Ridgway, featured:

· Penny Roberts, Senior Research Agronomist, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) speaking on South Australia’s production of grains, legumes and pulses and its supply chain;

· Andraia Torsiello, Pricing Analyst Plant Proteins, Mintec Global (USA) speaking on alternative proteins;

· Austrade presenting on plant-based alternative proteins; and

· Mary Shelman, Founder, Shelman Group chairing a panel on the Australian appetite for alternative protein products.

“It has been fantastic for Callaghan Innovation to lead the New Zealand agritech delegation to evokeAG for the third time, and the first in South Australia,” Mr Simon Yarrow, Group Manager Agritech Sector, Callaghan Innovation said.

“As part of this ‘market immersion’ trip, we have been privileged to see our Kiwi delegation make new connections with South Australian growers, rural retailers, researchers and investors.

“We have been very impressed with the variety and strength of the local agritech ecosystem, as well as the willingness to partner.”

evokeAG attracts leaders, farmers, innovators, accelerators, researchers, universities, corporates, government and investors to shine a global spotlight on Australia, New Zealand and Asia as a hub for agrifood tech and related research excellence.

The program positions South Australia’s industry and research leaders in the global agrifood tech and innovation ecosystem, exposing them to South Australia’s leading credentials in a range of sectors where the state has competitive advantage, including food, wine and agribusiness, renewable energy and space. 

For more information on Invest SA visit https://invest.sa.gov.au/

To learn more about evokeAG visit https://evokeag.com/