AgriFutures Australia

What AgriFutures Australia does

AgriFutures Australia is a statutory Research and Development Corporation (RDC) established in 1990 under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989, one of 15 RDCs operating in Australia. The organisation invests industry levies and Australian Government matching funding into research, development and extension (RD&E) that supports 13 levied rural industries — chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre, and ratite — as well as an Emerging Industries portfolio covering sesame, industrial hemp, insects, coffee, hazelnuts, saltwater crocodile and truffles. Its core technology is the grant administration and RD&E programme management infrastructure used to direct investment through advisory panels and competitive funding rounds; it is not a software company.

The organisation operates several branded platforms: growAG (a global investment and innovation marketplace that has channelled AU$150 million in overseas venture capital into Australian agritech over three years), evokeAG (the flagship annual agrifood-tech event, with Adelaide confirmed for 2027), and a Knowledge Hub repository of research publications and resources. It also delivers workforce and leadership development programmes including the Rural Women's Award, the Rural Women's Acceleration Grant, the Horizon Scholarship, and the People & Capability Program. Active research initiatives include a Beauveria bassiana biopesticide for the chicken meat industry (87% lesser mealworm control), a National Life Cycle Inventory dataset of over 1,500 farm-gate products for Scope 3 emissions reporting, and a national beehive traceability feasibility study.

The revenue model is a statutory co-investment structure: primary producers in levied industries contribute through R&D levies collected by the Australian Government and matched by Commonwealth appropriations. AgriFutures does not sell products or services to end users; instead, it distributes funds through grants, manages research outcomes, and reinvests in workforce programmes. Leadership transitioned in January 2026 with Brianna Casey AM appointed Managing Director and The Hon Mick Veitch appointed Board Chair, replacing a decade-long MD tenure. Headquartered in Wagga Wagga, NSW with approximately 80 staff, the organisation operates nationally across metropolitan, rural and regional Australia with no disclosed equity ownership or venture backing.

Name

AgriFutures Australia

Legal name

AgriFutures Australia

Website

https://agrifutures.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Development

NAICS

Crop Production (111), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Projects & Farm Expansion Advisory (Feasibility, Site Planning, ROI) (AFACAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & MRV Platforms (GHG Accounting, Regenerative Ag) (AFAAAFAK), Carbon, Sustainability & Traceability MRV (Field-Level Measurement/Reporting/Verification) (AFABAMAK), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Agricultural research funding
• Rural industry development
• Research and development corporation
• Agrifood innovation platform
• Agricultural workforce programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wagga Wagga

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industry Levy Funding: Thirteen levied rural industries pay statutory levies which are collected by the Australian Government and entrusted to AgriFutures Australia for management and strategic investment in industry-specific RD&E.
2. Australian Government Matching Funding: The Australian Government provides matching funding for eligible R&D activities, which are allocated for further industry-specific investment. This represents a co-investment model where government funding supplements industry levy contributions.
3. Cross-Sector Government Funding: Government funding (sometimes referred to as appropriation funding) supports flagship programs, cross-sector initiatives, and emerging industries investments that benefit Australian rural industries more broadly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AgriFutures Australia is a statutory Research and Development Corporation (RDC) that invests industry levies and Australian Government matching funding into research, development and extension (RD&E) across 13 levied Australian rural industries (chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, thoroughbred horses, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre and ratite) and a portfolio of emerging industries. The organization runs the growAG innovation platform, the evokeAG agrifood tech event, and a Knowledge Hub, and delivers workforce and leadership programs such as the Rural Women's Award, Horizon Scholarship and People & Capability Program.

Product overview

AgriFutures Australia is a Research and Development Corporation (RDC) that supports Australian rural industries through a portfolio of programs and platforms. The organization operates 13 levied industry programs (chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre, and ratite) and an Emerging Industries Program covering sesame, industrial hemp, insects, and more. Core platforms include growAG (investment and innovation marketplace), evokeAG (annual agritech conference), and a Knowledge Hub containing publications and resources. The organization delivers workforce and leadership development through the Rural Women's Award, Acceleration Grant, and Horizon Scholarship. Research initiatives include the Sesame Central collaborative research program, National LCI Dataset for emissions reporting, and various Varroa mite management projects. The Unearthed podcast showcases agricultural innovators, while national challenge initiatives address cross-sector issues like climate and supply chain resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AgriFutures evokeAG. Annual agrifood tech event focused on innovation and technology in agriculture
• AgriFutures growAG.
• Rural Women's Award
• Rural Women's Acceleration Grant
• AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship
• UNEARTHED Podcast

Products and services

• growAG Platform An online innovation and investment platform operated by AgriFutures Australia that connects investors, researchers and innovators with opportunities in Australian agrifood technology, facilitating overseas venture capital investment into Australian agritech.
• evokeAG Agrifood Tech Event AgriFutures' flagship annual agrifood technology event platform that brings together industry leaders, researchers, startups and investors to showcase and accelerate agricultural innovation across the food supply chain.
• Knowledge Hub Online repository of research publications, reports, fact sheets, podcasts and resources covering all AgriFutures Australia industries and programs, used by researchers, producers and policy stakeholders.
• Unearthed Podcast AgriFutures-branded podcast series featuring stories of people changing Australian agriculture, available on Buzzsprout and linkedin.bio, showcasing innovation and leadership in rural industries.
• Rural Women's Award Prestigious national award program run by AgriFutures Australia that recognises and supports women making significant contributions to rural industries and regional communities in Australia, with national announcement at Parliament House.
• Rural Women's Acceleration Grant AgriFutures Australia grant program providing financial support and development opportunities for women in rural industries to accelerate their projects and initiatives.
• AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship AgriFutures Australia scholarship program supporting students studying agriculture or related fields, providing mentorship and development opportunities for future rural industry leaders.
• Levied Industries RD&E Program Core RD&E funding program covering 13 established levied rural industries: chicken meat, rice, honey bee and pollination, ginger, tea tree oil, pasture seeds, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, buffalo, deer, goat fibre and ratite.
• Emerging Industries Program Targeted RD&E investment program supporting emerging high-potential Australian agricultural industries including sesame, industrial hemp, seaweed, coffee, hazelnuts, insects and saltwater crocodile.
• Workforce and Leadership Program AgriFutures Australia program addressing workforce and leadership development needs in Australian agriculture, including the People & Capability Program, scholarships and capacity building initiatives.
• Global Innovation Networks AgriFutures Australia program engaging with the global agrifood innovation ecosystem to ensure Australia accesses, adopts, develops and exports leading agrifood technologies through platforms like growAG and evokeAG.
• National Beehive Traceability System Feasibility Study Feasibility study managed by AgriFutures Australia under the National Agricultural Traceability Grants Program exploring a national beehive and honey traceability system to enhance biosecurity, regulatory compliance and industry resilience against threats such as Varroa mite.
• National Life Cycle Inventory Dataset National LCI dataset covering over 1,500 farm-gate products with updated emissions factors, developed in partnership with Lifecycles under the Australian Government's Sustainability Reporting Uplift Grant Round, supporting emissions reporting and climate disclosure compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• AU$150 million in overseas venture capital investment into agritech facilitated through growAG platform in three years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LifecyclescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Lifecycles, a sustainability consultancy, partnered with AgriFutures Australia under the Australian Government's Sustainability Reporting Uplift Grant Round to develop an expanded national Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) dataset covering more than 1500 farm-gate products, supporting emissions reporting and climate disclosure compliance.
• Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026QDPI researchers, funded by AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program, developed a biopesticide using Beauveria bassiana fungus achieving 87% control of lesser mealworm populations in Australian chicken sheds, outperforming chemical insecticides.
• National Agricultural Traceability Grants ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Managed by AgriFutures Australia, a feasibility study is underway exploring a national beehive and honey traceability system to enhance biosecurity, regulatory compliance, and industry resilience against threats like Varroa mite.
• Sesame Central (CRCNA and CQUniversity)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2021Sesame Central is a collaboration between AgriFutures Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), and CQUniversity providing coordinated sesame research in Australia. The partnership addresses practical challenges faced by growers and communicates research findings throughout the sesame supply chain.
• La Trobe UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner conducting honey bee research including Antibody-Driven Defence project for safeguarding honey bees against Varroa-induced viral diseases (2026-2030).
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation partnering on novel RNAi solutions for sustainable Varroa mite management project.
• Murdoch UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner conducting thoroughbred horse research including assessment of intra-horse variability in yearling laryngeal function.
• Southern Cross UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner evaluating oxalic acid control products for Varroa destructor management under Australian conditions (2026-2028).
• Australian Farm InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner conducting cross-industry climate pinch points assessment for national challenges and opportunities.
• Australian Honey Bee Industry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner conducting The Australian Colony Loss Survey (2026-2029) to assess honey bee colony health.
• Central Queensland UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research organization for Australian Sesame Industry Production Research Program (2023-2028) addressing agronomy and crop-protection issues for sesame production.
• Cesar Pty LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization that developed the RD&E Strategic Plan for Australian Sesame (2020-2021) to establish clear direction for industry growth.
• AgriVentis Technologies Pty LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner adapting grain crop seed threshing and cleaning equipment for sesame and emerging spices (2022-2023).
• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer CEO Andrew Campbell led ACIAR (reporting to Foreign Minister) before joining AgriFutures board, bringing international agricultural research expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wine Australia: Australian RDC for grape and wine producers. Directly comparable statutory funding model and R&D mandate under the PIRD Act, with similar research-investment portfolio governance.
• Cotton Research and Development Corporation: Australian RDC for the cotton industry, operating the same PIRD Act levy-matching model. Smaller-scale RDC peer directly comparable in governance, industry panel structure, and R&D investment process.
• Hort Innovation: Australian RDC for horticulture, operating the same levy-funded R&D model under the PIRD Act. Directly comparable in structure, scale, and stakeholder engagement, covering fruit, vegetables, and nut industries that overlap with several AgriFutures emerging industries (e.g., hazelnuts, coffee).
• Sugar Research Australia: RDC for Australian sugar industry. Board member Dr. Harjeet Khanna was formerly Executive Manager at Sugar Research Australia, evidencing direct governance overlap. Same statutory R&D funding structure as AgriFutures.
• Australian Wool Innovation: RDC for Australian woolgrowers, funded by statutory wool levy and government matching. Comparable RDC operating model with a focus on a single levied industry, contrasting with AgriFutures' multi-industry portfolio.
• Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC): Australian RDC for grains, operating under the same PIRD Act co-investment model (levies + government matching) as AgriFutures. Directly comparable governance, funding mechanism, and R&D investment mandate, though focused on the larger grains sector.
• Dairy Australia: Industry-owned RDC for the Australian dairy sector, comparable in statutory structure and co-investment funding model. AgriFutures and Dairy Australia frequently co-invest in cross-sector research, and they share the same accountability framework to levy payers and government.
• Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA): Australian RDC for red meat and livestock, funded through the same statutory levy and government matching framework as AgriFutures. AgriFutures' chicken meat program overlaps with MLA's livestock remit, and both deploy R&D investment, marketing levies, and global innovation platforms.
• Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC): Australian RDC for fisheries and aquaculture, co-funded by industry levies and Australian Government. Closely comparable RDC peer for AgriFutures' animal/aquaculture-adjacent industries (e.g., saltwater crocodile, insect production).

Broad incumbents

• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR): Australian Government entity funding international agricultural research for developing countries. AgriFutures board member Prof. Andrew Campbell was ACIAR's CEO; AgriFutures' Global Innovation Networks program (growAG, evokeAG) mirrors ACIAR's international R&D mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AgriFuturesAU
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgriFuturesAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/18220900
• Instagraminstagram.com/agrifuturesau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AgriFutures Australia