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‘Agbots’ invade Brisbane CBD
THERE were ‘agbots’ around the Stamford Brisbane hotel on Tuesday. No, it was not a location shoot for a Transformers-like Hollywood blockbuster, but an Innovation Series event looking at how automation technologies like agriculture robots (agbots) will shape Australia’s agribusiness future.
Agbots happen to be a new field of endeavour for Central Queensland farmer Andrew Bate, who has been working in collaboration with QUT and the Australian Centre for Field Robotics to develop robots as, he said, “an enabling technology to do things farmers could not do before”.
Developmental agricultural robot systems will be on display at the Stamford Brisbane while Mr Bate presents on the Innovation Series topic, Agriculture, Robotics & Collaboration a recipe for Global Success?
Mr Bate is a director of SwarmFarm Robotics and Bendee Farming and he will outline how robotic farming technologies are set to change the future of agriculture – enabling farmers in ways that have not been possible with current technologies.
Mr Bate said robotics has the potential to dramatically improve the way we produce food, from managing microbiology in the soil through to how sunlight is absorbed into plant leaves.
“From the earliest days of industrialisation in agriculture, farmers have talked about the Holy Grail of farming – the driverless tractor,” Mr Bate said. “But in the modern world of agribusiness, the concept of a driverless tractor is already obsolete.”
Instead, Mr Bate said, his research of robotics for agriculture pointed towards agbots that were small, simple, inexpensive with very few moving parts and few electronic systems. These agbots are all about helping farmers, big or small, to boost production and quality, he said.
“While governments in developing nations are eager to become self sufficient, or at least produce as much food as they can, other nations are becoming more concerned about sustainability, environmental impact and the quality and health of the food they are consuming,” Mr Bate said.
“Robotics is an enabling technology that will be key to unlocking future gains in food yield, sustainability, health and environmental impact.”
The development of robotics and farm automation also fits directly into the strategic view of Australia’s agribusiness future, examined at the Innovation Series by CSIRO Futures Leader, Dr Stefan Hajkowicz.
Dr Hajkowicz looked specifically at ‘the future of food’ as he explained the needs and wants of global food demand that Australia can position itself to meet. Specifically, he will touch on global food shortages, agricultural markets and the current and future demand from the Asia-Pacific region.
Outlining both the opportunities and the threats to Australia achieving its potential role as an agribusiness ‘superpower’ was Queensland Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett.
Dr Garrett’s opening presentation is provocatively named 'Teaching Grandmothers to Suck Eggs …' and it aimed to remind us of the real benefits to be had through collaboration and innovation.
Dr Garrett’s Innovation Series presentation covered an overview of the resources being made available to support the Australian agribusiness industry and new ways to help it continue to be one of the world’s most efficient producers.
The Innovation Series, started in Queensland in 2004, is a unique Australian forum convening researchers, industry and government to address and discuss leading developments in sustainability, while also encouraging the exchange of ideas and inviting new collaborations.
The Innovation Series is organised by Zernike Australia and partnered by the Australian Institute for Commercialisation, QUT, Fisher Adams Kelly, AusIndustry and Business Acumen magazine.
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