Bruce Woibo and Malcolm McIvor from the Hope Vale Foundation recently attended Millennia of Ag-Innovation: Reimagining Agrifood Resilience in Tropical North Queensland with TEKFARM, the first-ever First Nations-led agtech event.
Held in Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, the event brought together Indigenous farmers, industry experts, and innovators, to explore practical agtech solutions for sustainable agriculture.
Over two days, attendees participated in workshops, demonstrations, and networking sessions, designed to help farmers adopt new technologies. Hosted by TEKFARM, the event showcased agtech solutions aimed at improving water efficiency, optimizing farming operations, and building resilience in changing climates.
Event Highlights:
Day One at Bush Tukka Park: Indigenous agtech showcase, hands-on demonstrations, and an evening celebrating Indigenous culture.
Day Two at James Cook University & Atherton Tablelands: Idea labs, farm visits, and a demonstration at Rainstick Lab, where innovative technology mimicking lightning is used to boost crop growth sustainably.
Reflecting on the event, Bruce Woibo noted, “Opportunities are out there—talk to the right people, get the support that’s available, and make the most of your land.”
He went on to say, “This event brought community reps together to explore new tech, share knowledge, and celebrate culture—definitely a worthwhile and inspiring experience.”
For Hope Vale farmers, the knowledge learned from this event provides a valuable stepping stone toward integrating innovative agtech solutions into their operations.
What is agtech?
AgTech, also known as Agricultural Technology or Agrotechnology, is the application of technology to agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture, to help increase yield, efficiency, and profitability. It encompasses innovations aimed at improving efficiency, profitability, sustainability, and resilience, and includes devices, sensors, robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence.
