Budding innovators with big ideas will be front and centre at the third annual Food Leaders Australia (FLA) 400M AgTech Investment Forum being held in Toowoomba’s Armitage Centre on Thursday 24 May.

The Investment Forum connects innovators with the region’s most influential investors to accelerate the next generation of agricultural productivity, production specialisation and sustainability.

This year Food Leaders Australia are seeking 12 individuals or businesses to pitch projects, which must be investment ready and seeking funding for the next stage of commercialisation, to an impressive panel of industry experts and potential investors.

Proposed projects must have progressed past concept stage and had some market research and testing undertaken.

Agriculture is set to become Australia’s next $100 billion industry by 2030, and FLA General Manager Bruce McConnel said this would need to be facilitated by an increase in AgTech investment.

“Global opportunity for AgTech from the private sector is estimated to be approximately US $189 billion between 2013 and 2022, and Australia is behind the rest of the world in investment in this space,” Mr McConnel said.

“As a result, FLA/TSBE created this event and has facilitated it for the last three years to shine a light on the importance of continued and increased investment in this area.

“As evidence of the success of the event, five of the 12 pitchers from 2017’s 400M event received funding from investment bodies.”

The forum is expected to attract national and international innovators, venture capitalist investors and agribusiness leaders from across the Asia Pacific region who want an exclusive preview into the emerging technology and investment opportunities that will drive the next level of productivity and sustainability for agriculture.

The forum provides a valuable opportunity to network and learn from investors what types of projects and services they are attracted to, and the challenges of commercialisation.

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