How might we protect biodiversity in times of climate crisis?...How might we identify the tools that add value to farm businesses to manage climate variability?...How might we design our communities differently to manage climate variability?
If you have an answer to one of these questions, Agmentation 2022 is the place to pitch it!
This 28th and 29th of July, the region’s agricultural innovators will come together at the UNE SMART Farm Innovation Centre to solve a pressing problem facing the industry. The winning team will then receive a cash prize to expand their idea.
Creator of UNE Smart Region Incubator (SRI) founded start-up, FeedXL, and member of the 2019 winning team, Nerida Richards, says it was a great opportunity to use the power of teamwork to find a way to future-proof the industry.
With registrations about to close, we had a chat to Nerida about her experience participating in Agmentation, and her top tips for those considering entering.
What was the highlight of Agmentation for you and why?
I’d have to say watching my team pull off a win in the 2019 Agmentation! It was a lot of fun and also very satisfying watching the ideas fly and the team work together to build a concept that took out the win!
As an entrepreneur in the rural space, how did Agmentation benefit you?
Working as a remote team in my own company, I love the opportunity to get together, watch and be a part of the process of bringing lots of clever and creative minds together to create brilliance! It’s always a good reminder to me that working as a team creates amazing results. It’s also just a whole lot of fun, which we sometimes forget to have enough of when working in startups and small companies!
Tell us about the HERO app that you proposed?
It gave consumers the ability to scan fruits and vegetables and gather information on its origin, its chemical status and possibly its nutrient values. As consumers become more interested in this information and more focused on health outcomes that are related to nutrition and chemical contamination for themselves, an app like this would allow consumers to gather this information and make point of sale purchasing decisions.
What are your top tips to someone who is considering entering?
Get lots of sleep the night before, go in with a rested, open and creative mind, and don’t let what we know now constrain your thinking of what might be possible in the future!
If you had the chance, would you enter Agmentation again?
Absolutely! It’s a fun day with a healthy amount of competition and lots of creative scientific thinking!
What is it? Agmentation 2022 – an opportunity to come together for an intensive problem-solving sprint and pitch.
When and where?
Thursday 28th July at 5.30pm at NOVA (122 Faulkner Street) and then on Friday 29th July at the UNE SMART Farm Innovation Centre from 7am
Who is it for?
Sudents, researchers, entrepreneurs and community members interested in solving a solution faced by agricultural producers and rural communities.
Where can I register?
Register via the the UNE Smart Region Incubator website.
