THE national leg of an international agricultural innovation competition will be hosted in far north Queensland later this year.
The Future Agro Challenge will be held on the Atherton Tablelands from the 11 to 13 November.
It will be the first time the challenge has ever been held in Australia.
The challenge is a global competition that discovers innovation, fundable food and agribusiness startups from various corners of the world. Entrants are looking at ways to address national, regional and global challenges.
The international finals of the competition will be run in South Africa in March 2017, with the Australian winner to be named the most innovative agribusiness of the year.
Startup Tablelands is hosting the event.
Startup Tablelands co-ordinator for the the event Leanne Kruss, the Far North Queensland agricultural workforce manager for the Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN), said agriculture was among one of Australia’s most technologically advanced industries.
"Yet many Australians are largely unaware of the revolution that is occurring on our farms,” Ms Kruss said.
“It is often a surprise in many of the industry and school based workshops and excursions that I conduct within my role as to how sophisticated agricultural science and food production has become.
“Agricultural innovation will be one of our greatest contributions to develop solutions to global food security challenges.
“Australia's agricultural research and innovative capabilities is a significant industry in itself and our skills and knowledge, especially our positioning of producing food on the driest inhabited continent, make us highly sought after globally.
“The Future Agro Challenge will be an excellent platform within our region to showcase nationally and globally the innovative and highly skilled farming and research community that exists in Australia."
Planning has begun for the three-day event which will include a tour and expo.
Tablelands Regional Council is sponsoring the event.
Anyone wishing to become a sponsor or help out can call Ms Kruss on 0431 743 633 or email
