Sydney Institute of Agriculture
AgriCola
A weekly newsburst for SIA Members
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100 Words from the Director (or Thereabouts)
Last week I represented SIA along with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre (SSEAC) to a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Vietnam and ACIAR. Listening at this event, it highlighted to me that both SIA and SSEAC are uniquely positioned to deliver world-leading agricultural research that addresses Southeast Asia’s urgent development needs. SIA’s strengths in development and digital agriculture align closely with SSEAC’s Grand Challenges Strategy (2024–2029), particularly in agricultural development, sustainable resource use, and digital transformation. Together, the two institutes can integrate cutting-edge agri-tech, AI, and digital agriculture solutions with SSEAC’s deep regional expertise to advance food security, climate resilience, and ethical technology deployment. A point noted by members of the delegation after hearing from both SIA and SSEAC engagment. More broadly, there is potential for a program of work applying digital agriculture and AI across scales—from field to catchment—while strategically engaging with key economies such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, delivering regional impact, and building capacity through delivering training, contributing to policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange. I look forward to seeing how our Development Ag works with the the other themes and members of SIA to engage in this opportunity.
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Annual Sydney Institute of Agriculture Narrabri Field Day Grains of Tomorrow: Innovations and Sustainability
Join us in Narrabri for our Annual SIA Narrabri Field Day, where we’ll showcase the latest research at the I.A. Watson Grains Research Centre.
This year’s theme, “Grains of Tomorrow: Innovations and Sustainability,” will kick off with a panel discussion featuring researchers, industry leaders, and farmers exploring the future of grains.
Following the discussion, enjoy a guided field walk and wrap up the day with a relaxed beer in the paddock.
Although there is no charge to attend this event, registration is essential to assist us cater appropriately.
Date: Wednesday 10 September 2025
Time: 12noon to 4.30pm, followed by networking drinks
Venue: I.A.Watson Grains Research Centre, 12656 Newell Highway, Narrabri
RSVP: By Wednesday, 27 August 2025
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Save the Date - Annual SIA HDR Student TripWe're currently planning the Annual SIA HDR Student Trip. This year we will travel to the Tamworth region, so mark your calendars for 18-20 November 2025. More information to come!
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Cathy McGowan AO, Shay Sadr, John Harvey
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| Congratulations to PhD candidate Shay Sadr, a poultry nutrition researcher and former data analyst, who has been named the 2025 AgriFutures Gary Sansom Scholar. Her research focuses on incorporating Australian-grown legumes into broiler (meat) chicken diets to reduce crude protein without compromising bird health or productivity.
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Dr. Julio Pachon hosted a workshop Harnessing Web Data in the Biomedical Building on August 13. This hands-on workshop focused on two powerful techniques:
Web Scraping – for systematically extracting data from websites, and
Cosine Similarity – for measuring textual similarity in research, NLP, and analytics contexts.
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Professors Damien Field and Daniel Tan together with Profs Greg Fox and Tiho Ancev, Dr Sandra Alday from the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre (SSEAC), Mr Elis Benediktsson and Ms Ly Tran Hoang My from the Sydney Vietnam Institute, Dr Thien Hoang Nguyen from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, A/Prof Jiangshan Yu from the School of Computer Science, and Prof Jenny-Anne Toribio, Sydney School of Veterinary Science hosted a delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR, represented by Dr Suzie Newman, GM Partnerships and Mr Tran Nam Anh, Assistant Country Manager Vietnam) on 22 August 2025. The Vietnamese delegation consisted of Dr Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director General, Department of Science & Technology, MAE, Dr Truong Thi Thu Trang, Deputy Director, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE), MAE, Dr Tran Minh Tien, Vice President, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), MAE, Dr Chau Minh Khoi, Vice Rector of Agricultural College, Can Tho University, MOET and Dr Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI), MAE. The Vietnamese delegation was interested in collaborating with University of Sydney researchers, particularly in the areas of digitalisation (of agriculture), reducing emissions (particularly from agriculture), hydrology in the Mekong Delta, food safety and One Health (from the soil/water to crops/animals to humans).
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In this Development Agriculture section, I present a summary update of two interdisciplinary development agriculture projects that I am involved in:
- Integrating the Electrification and Smart Mechanisation of Two-Wheel Tractors, Sukkarieh S, Tan DKY, Cross R, Phillips S, Sinpeng A, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)/Crops Program (2024 – 2029).
- Fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable Diets (FRESH) (Work Packages 4 and 6). One-CGIAR & IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute). Thow A, Tan DKY (2022 – 2024).
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In both projects, we have the pleasure of working with fabulous in-country partners and are truly inter-disciplinary with academics from at least two University of Sydney faculties leading/co-leading the activities to address grand challenges. In the first ACIAR-funded project, academics from three faculties (Engineering and Computer Science, Science & Arts and Social Sciences) are leading activities and delivering outputs, outcomes and impacts. In the second IFPRI-funded project, academics from two faculties (Faculty of Medicine and Health and Science) as well as a private company (Applied Horticultural Research Pty Ltd) are leading activities and delivering outputs, outcomes and impacts.
Electrifying Cambodia's Fields: Smart Mechanisation for Smallholder Farmers
A collaborative project brings electric two-wheel tractors and precision agriculture to Cambodia's farming communities
By Dr Helia Farhood
Project Overview: Building the Future of Cambodian Agriculture
The "Integrating the Electrification and Smart Mechanisation of Two-Wheel Tractors with Precision Agriculture" project is transforming agricultural practices for smallholder farmers across Cambodia. Led by the University of Sydney in partnership with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), and Engineers Without Borders Cambodia, this innovative initiative is co-designing and trialling electric two-wheel tractors (e2WT) to meet the unique needs of Cambodian farming communities. The University of Sydney interdisciplinary team is led by Prof. Salah Sukkarieh (mechatronics engineering), with support from Prof. Daniel Tan (farming systems), Dr Rebecca Cross (social science), Dr Shauna Phillips (agricultural economics) and A/Prof Aim Sinpeng (policy).
In its first year, the project has established a strong foundation spanning technical development, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. The team has successfully completed baseline surveys, stakeholder workshops, technical prototyping, student-led field trials, curriculum exchange, and early policy engagement across two key provinces: Kandal and Banteay Meanchey.
The project's interdisciplinary approach brings together expertise in engineering, economics, gender analysis, policy development, and farming systems to ensure solutions are technically robust, economically viable, and socially inclusive. With gender and inclusion as key cross-cutting themes, approximately 50% of workshop participants have been women, ensuring diverse voices shape the technology development process.
Digital Farmhand Training: Hands-On Technology Transfer
A major milestone in the project's first year was the successful transfer and deployment of the Digital Farmhand (DFH) robot from Sydney to Cambodia. The Cambodian team received comprehensive in-country training, with 11 DFH pilots trained to operate the system in field settings.
The local team demonstrated remarkable innovation by adapting the DFH with a locally mounted motorised sprayer and harrower, leading field-testing activities that not only supported early engagement with new agricultural technologies but also built crucial hands-on technical capacity within the team. These student-led trials confirmed the compatibility and functionality of the spraying attachment with the DFH platform, establishing the technical foundation for future field applications.
This capacity building approach ensures that technological innovations are not merely transferred but truly adopted and adapted by local communities. The Cambodian team's leadership in technical adaptations validates the project's partnership model and demonstrates effective knowledge exchange between institutions.
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 | Fig1: DFH robot adapted in Cambodia with a locally mounted motorised sprayer and harrower, tested in field conditions as part of early co-design and student-led evaluation activities.
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Baseline Survey: Understanding Regional Farming Differences
The project conducted comprehensive baseline surveys with 139 farmers in Kandal Province and 108 farmers in Banteay Meanchey Province. Designed collaboratively between the University of Sydney and RUA, these surveys revealed crucial insights into regional farming practices that will shape technology deployment strategies.
Key Findings Revealed Stark Provincial Differences:
Kandal Province: Dominated by vegetable farming, farmers rely heavily on service providers and middlemen, with very low two-wheel tractor ownership rates. Economic analysis identified affordability as a major barrier to machinery adoption, suggesting service delivery models will be essential for technology access.
Banteay Meanchey Province: More mechanised agriculture focusing on maize and cassava production, with higher two-wheel tractor ownership rates. Machines are frequently used for transport due to long distances between homes and fields, presenting more feasible conditions for future e2WT conversions.
The gender-disaggregated data enhanced understanding of how men and women engage in different farming tasks, with equal workshop representation informing more gender-responsive design approaches. These insights will be essential for tailoring future service models and ensuring the e2WT technology meets diverse farmer needs across different agricultural systems.
Ongoing Activities: Precision Agriculture Collaboration
Technical Development Progress
The e2WT design has advanced to the preliminary design review stage, with motor, battery, and coupling systems designed and now undergoing integration. 3D assemblies are complete, hardware procurement is underway, and the Cambodian team is leading the pace of development. Advanced control strategies are being developed using Python to enhance tractor responsiveness and adaptability under varying field conditions.
Precision Agriculture Capacity Sharing with Royal University of Agriculture
A key ongoing activity is the curriculum exchange and capacity sharing between the University of Sydney and RUA in precision agriculture. The University of Sydney's precision agriculture curriculum has been shared with RUA, laying the foundation for co-development of context-relevant modules. This collaboration is defining emerging themes like precision agriculture and AI that will be integrated into teaching materials. A capacity sharing workshop between USYD (Dr Patrick Filippi and Prof. Daniel Tan) and RUA (Drs Lytour Lor and Lyhour Hin) took place on July 4, 2025, which further strengthened the collaborative development of locally relevant precision agriculture content. This partnership builds on RUA's existing machinery construction capabilities while identifying opportunities for enhanced electrification and software modelling support.
Student Engagement and Mentoring
Cambodian students from both ITC and RUA have contributed significantly to DFH trials, hardware adaptation, and ongoing coordination activities. They are supported through regular monthly meetings and guidance from supervisors, with collaboration across research areas improving through structured mentoring. A Sydney-based student is also developing advanced control strategies to improve tractor adaptability. In addition, a Master of Agriculture and Environment student, Rosa Ratha, supported by the Crawford Fund, is further analysing the baseline survey data supervised by Dr Rebecca Cross, Prof. Daniel Tan and Dr Lyhour Hin (RUA).
Policy Integration
Policy engagement has exceeded expectations, with productive collaboration involving Engineers Without Borders Cambodia and government stakeholders. The team has identified key policy partners and is conducting ongoing research on relevant policies, including those related to cassava, maize, agricultural machinery, and Cambodia's national agricultural roadmap.
Looking Ahead: Implementation and Scale-Up
The project is well-positioned for expanded implementation as it moves into its second year. The strong partnerships developed, combined with deep baseline insights and solid technical progress, provide an excellent foundation for the next phase of prototyping, policy discussion, and potential regional scale-up. The team's collaborative approach has created not only innovative technology solutions but also the trust and institutional structures needed to ensure sustainable impact for Cambodia's smallholder farming communities.
Key lessons from the CGIAR FRESH Project – What we have learnt on policy, postharvest management and food safety
A collaborative project brings an end-to-end approach to safe and healthy fresh produce for smallholder farmers in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Benin.
By Professor Daniel Tan
Project Overview
The One-CGIAR (Consortium Group on International Agricultural Research) project on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) (2022 to 2024) focussed on an end-to-end approach to increase fruit and vegetable intake, improve dietary quality, nutrition and health while enhancing livelihoods. At the University of Sydney, Work Package 4 is led by Professor Daniel Tan (Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science) and Work Package 6 is led by Professor Anne-Marie Thow (Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health).
Work Package 4 (Postharvest management and food safety)
Our work package 4 team addressed food safety, postharvest and inclusive markets in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Tanzania and Benin. The team is led by Professor Daniel Tan and Dr Jenny Ekman, Applied Horticultural Research Pty Ltd with support from Drs Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters and Youri Jijkxhoorn, Wageningen University Research, Drs Yu-Wen Lai, Mark Bradbury and Ali Khoddami, University of Sydney, Prof. Ilmi Hewajulige, Industrial Technology Institute, Dr Wella Absulio-Morales, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Zablon Ernest, World Vegetable Center, Tanzania and Dr Nicodeme Hotegni, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
In all four countries, protecting fruits and vegetables from damage using plastic crates or lined timber crates improved produce quality and reduced postharvest losses. In Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, pilot cool rooms with CoolBot controllers have been installed (or are in the process of being installed). In Tanzania, three cool storage methods - Low Energy Cooling Chamber (LECC), misting chamber and cool room with CoolBot - were compared with ambient storage conditions (Trigo et al. 2024). The cool room with CoolBot was most effective, extending the shelf life of tomatoes to two weeks compared to three days in ambient conditions. The misting chamber and LECC extended tomato shelf life to five and seven days, respectively. Leafy vegetables, however, experienced significant weight loss and colour changes by the third and fourth day in the misting chamber and LECC, leading to their early disposal. A cool box with ice cube technology was also piloted with a select group of retailers in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The technology kept vegetables fresh for more than a day, reducing postharvest losses and attracting more customers due to improved handling and a fresher appearance.
In Sri Lanka, three commonly consumed green leafy vegetables - Centella asiatica (Gotukola), Ipomoea aquatica (Kankung), and Alternanthera sessilis (Mukunuwenna) - were sampled from Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)-certified and non-GAP certified farmers, local markets, and supermarkets located within Western Province of Sri Lanka. Approximately 31% of the non-GAP samples were contaminated with pesticide residues while GAP samples were mainly not contaminated (Poornima et al. 2024).
In both Sri Lanka and Tanzania, irrigation water was monitored for faecal contamination, and the level was higher during the rainy season in both countries. In Sri Lanka, significantly higher E. coli levels were detected in surface water during the rainy season at all three sites: Nuwara Eliya, Walimada and Boralanda. In Walimada, the mean count during rainy season was 2.1 × 10⁴ MPN/100 mL, compared with 2.8 × 10³ MPN/100 mL in the dry season. Groundwater mostly remained uncontaminated in both seasons.
In Tanzania, untreated irrigation water from Arusha (tank) and Kilimanjaro (tap) was monitored for 12 months, and both sources were found to be contaminated with E. coli for most months of the year (>100 MPN/100 mL) (see Figure 1). Higher contamination occurred after heavy rainfalls. A survey of E. coli on produce, indicated leafy greens had higher levels of E. coli compared to tomato (above ground) in both Arusha and Kilimanjaro markets.
Pesticide residue analysis was also conducted in Tanzania. Vegetables from FRESH-supported production hubs were analysed alongside those produced by farmers with no technical support from the project. Preliminary data indicate that vegetable samples collected from farmers not supported by the hub had higher levels of pesticide residues compared to those collected from the hubs.
In all four countries, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) should be promoted along with close monitoring and surveillance of chemical and microbial hazards, underpinned by supporting policy frameworks at the national, sub-national levels and local government (LGU) levels. In Sri Lanka a food safety policy brief has been submitted to the Ministry of Health to inform the new food safety policy, currently being discussed in the cabinet (Bokshi et al. 2025).
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Figure 1. Cold room with CoolBot installed at the Boralanda Farmer Hub, Sri Lanka on 26 July 2025.
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Figure 2. E. coli most probable number (MPN) in irrigation water from Arusha and Kilimanjaro hubs,Tanzania
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Work Package 6 (Enabling Environment)
By Samali Perera
The Work Package 6 team is led by Professor Anne-Marie Thow from the University of Sydney. Dr. Ilana Cliffer and Dr. Jody Harris from the World Vegetable Centre, Thailand provided advisory support.
Country leaders;
- Benin: Dr. Nestor Alokpaï, National University of Agriculture
- Philippines: Associate Professor Elaine Borazon, National Sun Yat-sen University
- Sri Lanka: Samali Perera, University of Sydney
- Tanzania: Mario Venance, Local Government Authority, Buhigwe District Council.
Looking at Policies through a Food Systems Lens
In 2022, the team undertook a documentary analysis of national policies related to fruits and vegetables in each of the four study countries. Taking an end-to-end food systems approach, the researchers mapped how existing policies addressed production, trade, safety, and consumption. The outcome was 20 policy briefs—one for each country and each FRESH work package—designed to guide policy engagement.
This work also produced two academic papers now under review: a cross-country comparative policy analysis (Borazon et al.), and a policy analysis with a gender focus (Sibamenya Venance et al.).
Understanding the Political Economy of Food Policy
In 2023, the focus shifted to the political economy of food policy. Through in-depth interviews and analysis, the team explored how governments balance production and consumption priorities, which actors hold influence, and how indigenous crops could play a greater role in food systems.
Country-specific case studies highlighted examples of successful policy prioritisation for fruits and vegetables in the last five years. These cases shed light on how agenda-setting, policy design, institutional coordination, and political commitment can bring fruits and vegetables to the centre of policy action.
Across countries, common barriers emerged: affordability, accessibility, food safety concerns, cultural food practices, and low awareness remain critical obstacles shaping fruit and vegetable consumption patterns.
Exploring Reginal Pathways
In 2024, research shifted to exploring the potential of regional policy mechanisms to strengthen national and regional priority for fruits and vegetables. The team conducted a documentary analysis of regional policy frameworks and 35 key informant interviews across Africa and Asia. The study aimed to identify opportunities to elevate fruits and vegetables within regional policy agendas by analysing current priorities, political economy dynamics, and their translation into national-level action.
Relevant regional bodies included:
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- East African Community (EAC)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- African Union (AU)
In summary, we found that there was some, limited, explicit priority at regional level for fruit and vegetables, with the EAC having the strongest regional priority for fruits and vegetables. Existing priorities relevant to fruit and vegetable food systems more broadly (i.e., implicit priority) related to the role of regional governance in addressing 1) shared resources and transboundary issues (particularly management of water resources), 2) trade (particularly harmonization of SPS standards to facilitate trade), 3) issues requiring coordinated action (related to agriculture, health and environment), and 4) building capacity for sustainable economic development (including youth, and research and innovation).
Key opportunities include positioning fruits and vegetables as:
- Drivers of sustainable economic development and nutrition
- Crops that can benefit from regional cooperation in trade, standards, and transboundary resource management
- Vehicles for job creation, especially for youth, women, and smallholder farmers
Translation and engagement
Throughout the research process, the WP6 team engaged actively with policymakers and regional institutions. This two-way dialogue allowed the researchers to learn about policy needs and priorities, while also sharing evidence to strengthen advocacy for fruits and vegetables.
By working in partnership with policy communities, the FRESH team is helping to translate research into real-world action—ensuring that fruits and vegetables are not only recognised as essential for nutrition but also as valuable commodities for economic growth, trade, and sustainable development.
References
Acedo AL, Absulio-Morales WL, Franco RKG, Ekman J, Bradbury MI, Tan DKY (2024). Food safety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Philippines: challenges and prospects. Food Research 8(6), 96-113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.8(6).298
Bokshi AI, Perera SC, Becker JA; Bradbury M, Lai YW, Hewajulige IGN, Thow AM, Tan DKY (2025). Strengthening food safety policy: a case study of the food safety policy landscape in Sri Lanka. Applied Food Research DOI: 10.1016/j.afres.2025.101131
Poornima WVDS, Liyanaarachchi GVV, Somasiri HPPS, Hewajulige IGN, Tan DKY (2024). Fresh fruit and vegetable safety concerns in Sri Lanka; review of pesticide contamination. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 128, 106004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106004
Trigo MA, Ekman J, Ernest Z, Tan DKY (2024). Evaluation of the effectiveness of low energy cooling chamber (LECC), cold room and misting chamber on storage life and quality of the vegetables (amaranth, nightshade, tomatoes and African eggplant) in Tanzania. 2024 Agronomy Australia Conference, 21-24 October 2024, Albany, Australia.
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APRU Food Security and Agritech Symposium 2025Dates: 2-4 November 2025
Venue: CREATE, NUS U Town, Singapore
Theme: Innovating Food Security and Agritech Solutions across the Pacific Rim
The call for abstracts is currently open. Submissions close on 30 August 2025.
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Farming Forever National SummitThe Farming Forever National Summit will bring together farmers, industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and policymakers to explore practical, climate-smart solutions for the future of farming. With sessions covering everything from on-farm renewable integration and input cost reduction to research-informed resilience strategies, the event will be highly relevant to students and educators in the fields of agriculture, sustainability, agribusiness, and climate science.
Date: 1-2 September 2025
Venue: Hotel Realm, Canberra
Discount: Use code STAKEHOLDER20 for a 20% discount at checkout
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2025 Shaping Australia AwardsThe 2025 Shaping Australia Awards celebrate individuals and teams whose work is transforming lives, communities, and our nation’s future. This is your opportunity to showcase your achievements on a national stage and be in the running for a share of $15,000 in prize money.
Entries close on 5 September 2025
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Ngarangun: Sydney Indigenous Research Strategy GrantsThe Ngarangun: Sydney Indigenous Research Strategy grant (Ngarangun grant) program aims to promote Indigenous research, Australian and international, at the University of Sydney. The aim of the program is to support Indigenous research across all fields of research, seeding and expanding projects that aim to apply for external funding. Funds can be used to:
a) Develop new collaborative Indigenous research projects
b) Extend and expand existing Indigenous research projects
Ngarangun grants will provide funding up to $50,000, to be expended within the funding period of 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025.
Full applications close at 5pm (AEST) on 15 September 2025
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New Colombo Plan 2026 grant round
The 2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant round is now open, offering funding opportunities for Australian universities to support undergraduate student mobility across the Indo-Pacific region.
This round includes three key streams:
- Scholarship Program: Nominate high-achieving students for immersive study and internships by 26 August 2025 (invited students need to apply by 23 September 2025)
- Semester Program: Apply for funding to support structured study abroad experiences
- Mobility Program: Design short-term study tours, practicums, and internships
The 2026 round introduces key reforms, including:
- A stronger focus on Asia literacy and long-term immersive experience
- Increased scholarship numbers
- Greater emphasis on Asian language learning
Applications close on 23 September 2025.
For enquiries, please contact the Sydney Abroad NCP team: ncp.admin@sydney.edu.au. project, its relevance to the AAC priorities, and any potential partners by COB 10 September 2025.
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EOI: Upcoming ASEAN-Australia Centre 2025–2026 grants
SSEAC invites expressions of interest for the upcoming 2025–26 ASEAN-Australia Centre (AAC) grant round. The AAC supports initiatives that strengthen Australia’s engagement with Southeast Asia across four strategic pillars – Southeast Asia literacy, Economic Linkages, Education and Cultural Connections.
This is a competitive funding opportunity for projects that reflect the AAC’s priorities and demonstrate strong regional collaboration and impact.
If you have a project idea that aligns with these goals, we’d love to hear from you. We can help support your application and offer guidance to strengthen your proposal.
Please complete this brief expression of interest form outlining your research project, its relevance to the AAC priorities, and any potential partners by COB 10 September 2025.
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Women in SensingHow can we design infrastructure that is smarter, more sustainable, and more equitable?
he next NSSN Women in Sensing event will be held at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Knowledge Hub on Tuesday 16 September.
The panel will explore the future of infrastructure through the lens of innovation—examining how emerging materials, advanced sensing technologies, and inclusive design approaches are reshaping the built environment.
From climate resilience to quantum-enabled monitoring, join us for a forward-looking conversation on the systems that will support our communities in the decades to come.
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Singapore Agri-Food Week Immersion ProgramThe Singapore International Agri-food Week (SIAW) gathers global industry leaders, policy makers, and innovators to build new partnerships and explore opportunities for agri-food technology development and adoption across the region. SIAW is held 3-6 November 2025 in the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. Tomorrow Studio Ventures will host an immersion program during SIAW, designed for agri-food entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, students and researchers aiming to expand in Asia-Pacific. Attendees will have access to conferences, events, site visits and targeted introductions to foster strategic connections and partnerships.
Cost: $3,750 + GST (excludes travel and accommodation)
Expressions of interest are due by 30 September 2025.
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Pathways & Partnerships: AVBS Industry NightThe University of Sydney “Pathways & Partnerships: AVBS Industry Night” is an evening dedicated to fostering connections between our talented students and industry professionals.
This is an evening designed to connect our students with industry professionals working across the animal sciences and explore career pathways.
The event is open to postgraduates and 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students pursuing careers in the animal industries.
Staff are welcome to attend as an opportunity to meet our students and network with industry.
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When: 23rd September, 6-8pm
Where: Auditorium, F23 Michael Spence Building, City Road, The University of Sydney
Join an evening of canapes, pizza and drinks, and inspiring conversation, collaboration, and career-building.
RSVP:
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Sydney Manufacturing Hub's Road Mapping WorkshopThis event is targeted at current users of SMH, new or potential users of SMH, and contributors to SMH.
When: 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 1 October
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Future Drought Fund - Grant Opportunity OpenApplications for the Innovation Challenges Pilot program grant rounds are now open.
Through a competitive grant process, up to $2 million per project is available.
Projects must be completed by 30 June 2028, and be delivered by a consortium of partners and provide innovative solutions to one or more of the following challenges:
- Advancing Natural Capital and Biodiversity for Drought Preparedness and Resilience
- Innovating Water Management for Enhanced Drought Resilience in Australian Agriculture
- National Innovation for Enhancing Community Resilience to Drought in Australian Agricultural Regions.
Applications close 22 October 2025 at 9:00pm (AEST).
Read further here.
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Elevate: Turn Innovation into ImpactAg-tech focused Elevate is a fully funded, in-person, 2 day workshop (14-15 October) for researchers, innovators and early-stage startups ready to explore commercialisation pathways in the grains sector. The program, backed by GRDC, is designed for deep tech innovation in agriculture. Applications close 14 September 2025. Read further and apply here.
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Save the DateSeeds of Legacy: 80th Anniversary of Gabo Wheat Celebration.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of Australia's most significant agricultural contributions, a celebration will be held on 22 October 2025 in Gunnedah, to honour the legacy of Gabo wheat and the innovation it has inspired. More details to come.
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Social Media The Sydney Institute of Agriculture is on Instagram (Sydney_Sia) and we are also on X (Sydney Agriculture @SiaSydney) and LinkedIn (SIA Sydney). Follow us at the links in the box below.
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