Zero Harm Farm takes home blue ribbon for AgTech Challenge at 2018 Royal Melbourne Show

Conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the AgTech Challenge, a new addition to the Royal Melbourne Show lineup, encouraged people Australia-wide to submit their idea to help improve the agricultural industry.

The idea behind Zero Harm Farm is to bring an end to preventable accidents on farms. With the Agricultural industry being one of the most dangerous places to work in the world, Zero Harm Farm will make safety easier and more accessible for managers to keep their workers safe.

Zero Harm Farm brings safety online, using mapping technology to quickly update hazards in real time, keeping visitors, employees and contracts informed.

The Challenge, launched prior to the Show, invited participants to submit a pitch showcasing their AgTech and/or food innovation product or service. Finalists were invited to display their ideas at the Show, with the competition winner announced on the first Sunday of the Royal Melbourne Show.

“It’s great to see innovation like this first-hand and we are thrilled to be able to provide a space at the Royal Melbourne Show for innovators to think, celebrate, and show off their ideas to a wider audience,” said RASV CEO Paul Guerra.

“Having the space to allow innovation in the industry not only helps to grow it, but brings in fresh ideas and new perspectives. As Victoria’s largest and most iconic event, the Royal Melbourne Show provides a unique and valuable platform to showcase new ideas that make a significant positive difference in the agriculture sector,” Mr Guerra said.

Finalists for the AgTech Challenge included thinkc – automating agriculture with artificial intelligence and powered robotics, My Pocket Mate Stock Keeper – a mobile application to record real time information about paddocks and stock, and RiseHarvest – a social enterprise aimed at improving the livelihoods of underprivileged farmers with a crop diagnosis application.

“Congratulations to all the finalists for this challenge. It’s great to hear and see what fresh ideas are doing for the industry.”

“We look forward to another successful competition and the promotion of new ideas in 2019,” Mr Guerra said.

2018 AgTech Challenge finalists