A scaleup’s guide to Australia’s agritech and foodtech ecosystem

With a bold vision to reach $100 billion in production by 2030, and as one of the five key pillars of the Australian economy, Australian agriculture is well-positioned to be an exceptional launchpad for scaling agricultural and food technologies. For startups looking to scale their agricultural or food technology solutions, Australia’s innovation ecosystem offers a unique combination of advantages that few other countries can match.

Australia’s distinctive advantages for agritech and foodtech innovators

Australia is uniquely positioned within the global agricultural innovation ecosystem, with world-class research capabilities, a supportive policy environment, diverse natural resources, and a collaborative environment that fosters rapid development and commercialisation of agritech and foodtech solutions.

While Australia’s diverse ecosystem can be challenging to navigate, the scale-up guide, published by growAG. provides international and Australian-based startups with insights into how to operate within the landscape for sustainable growth and market expansion.

For agritech innovators, Australia offers diverse testing environments across six climate zones, and a fast-growing network of accelerators and incubators. Its counter-seasonality to US and EU markets enables quicker development cycles, while strong leadership in sustainability provides a supportive environment for climate-resilient technologies.

Foodtech innovators also benefit from a strong scientific talent pool, access to high-quality raw materials, and alignment with global consumer demands for clean, sustainable food. Combined with opportunities for global collaboration and the Australian Research and Development Corporation’s cross-industry research model, Australia offers fertile ground for growth, innovation and market success.

Navigating the grow^AG. Scale-Up Guide

With a focus on facilitating growth and innovation in the agritech and foodtech sectors, the grow^AG. Scale-Up Guide provides in-depth insights into key industry players, support programs and strategic pathways to scale. It also highlights success stories through real-world case studies, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for innovators at every stage of their journey.

One of the key strengths of the guide is its extensive collection of practical resources. These include detailed maps of the Australian agritech and agrifood ecosystems, showcasing innovation hubs, research institutions, and investment hotspots. The guide also presents a comprehensive overview of Australia’s agricultural sector, breaking down top commodities, production values by state, market drivers and emerging trends – equipping businesses with the knowledge to make informed decisions.

The guide also explores how startups can validate their solutions in the Australian market and outlines the investment landscape, which, over the past five years has seen startups raise more than $1.2 billion USD and agricultural R&D receive over $8 billion USD.

Success stories from the field

CropX is an AI-powered farm management system originally from New Zealand. After securing $30 million in Series C funding in early 2023, CropX strategically expanded into Australia by acquiring Adelaide-based Green Brain in December 2023. This acquisition significantly strengthened CropX’s Australian presence, tripling its local sales team and leveraging Green Brain’s nearly 40-year reputation for technical expertise and customer support in irrigation optimisation.

By combining CropX’s advanced agronomic system (which provides insights on irrigation, fungal diseases, soil health, and nitrogen leaching) with Green Brain’s established customer base in a market where recurring droughts and high irrigation costs create demand for precision agriculture, the move demonstrated smart market entry. It also now offers a blueprint for how international agtech innovators can successfully scale in Australia through strategic partnerships that address local agricultural challenges.

Navigating market entry, securing funding and achieving commercial success can be complex and challenging in today’s global landscape. However, success stories like these demonstrate what is possible within Australia’s innovation ecosystem, highlighting the unique support and opportunities available for agritech and foodtech innovators.

For scale-ups interested in exploring these opportunities further, the complete guide is available to download at growag.com.

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