What Charles Sturt - AgriPark does

Charles Sturt AgriPark is an innovation ecosystem operated by Charles Sturt University on the university's Wagga Wagga campus in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Established in 2016, it is structured as a partnership platform that brings together researchers, industry, government and community to address challenges facing regional Australian agriculture, supported by a 1,600-hectare working commercial farm and a 130-year university research lineage dating back to the first experimental farm in 1892.

The portfolio of facilities and programs is the operational backbone. AgriPark operates 25+ environmental laboratories up to physical containment level 3 (PC3), the Southern Hemisphere's largest Rhizolysimeter (96 intact soil monoliths for root growth and soil water research), a phytotron with 13 controlled-environment growth chambers, a research winery with up to 1,000L production, a veterinary clinical centre with CT, fluoroscopy and neonatal intensive care, specialist glasshouses, and Australia's first fully automated Global Digital Farm. Programmatic offerings include the Startup Year Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (a Commonwealth Government-directed 6-month part-time course at $6,360 per student with STARTUP-HELP loan eligibility), the First Nations Innovators Program delivered with The Scale Institute, the First Nations Health Innovation Initiative, the BioSolutions Innovation and Knowledge Hub (a joint venture with Elders), the Renewables in Agriculture Centre of Excellence, the Cool Soil Initiative, and the Vineyard of the Future research initiative announced in late 2025.

AgriPark's commercial model rests on three pillars: collaborative research agreements with industry partners and government agencies that purchase access to facilities, expertise and trial sites; program fees from innovation and entrepreneurship programs (most notably Startup Year); and facility access/testing services for product validation. The GTM motion is event- and partnership-driven, with distribution via direct inquiry, online collaboration portals, and a channel partner network of 25+ organizations. Customer segments span industry (agribusiness partners such as Elders, Syngenta, DLF Seeds), government (DPI NSW, AgriFutures, GRDC, Regional Development Australia), students and graduates, and First Nations entrepreneurs. AgriPark operates as a unit within Charles Sturt University, a public Australian statutory body, rather than as a standalone commercial entity, which shapes its funding flows and revenue ceiling.

Name

Charles Sturt - AgriPark

Legal name

Charles Sturt University

Website

https://agripark.csu.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AgriPark is Charles Sturt University's agricultural innovation ecosystem, operating on a 1,600-hectare farm in Wagga Wagga, NSW, that convenes industry, government and researchers to commercialize agricultural innovations, deliver innovation programs and provide research and testing services across agritech, soil health and renewables.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Innovation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Health & Regenerative Agronomy Consulting (AFACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG / Carbon & Conservation Program Advisory (AFACAJAF), Cover Crop & Conservation Practice Planning (AFACABAI), Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Innovation ecosystem
• Commercial farm trials
• Agtech validation facilities
• Entrepreneurship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wagga Wagga

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Partnerships and Collaborations: Revenue generated through collaborative research agreements with industry partners, government agencies, and commercial enterprises seeking access to AgriPark facilities and expertise for agricultural innovation projects.
2. Innovation Programs: Program fees from initiatives such as the Startup Year Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, priced at $6,360 per student for the Australian Government pilot program.
3. Facility Access and Testing Services: Fees for accessing world-class research facilities including laboratories, field trial sites, glasshouses, and specialized equipment for product testing and validation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AgriPark is an agricultural research and innovation ecosystem operating on a 1,600-hectare commercial farm in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It provides collaborative research services, on-farm technology validation and testing, commercialisation support, and a portfolio of innovation programs (including Startup Year, First Nations Innovators, and sustainable packaging challenges) to industry, government and community partners. Access to world-class facilities (Environmental Test Suite, Rhizolysimeter, Phytotron, Veterinary Clinical Centre, research winery) and university research expertise via the Gulbali Institute underpins the offering.

Product overview

Charles Sturt AgriPark is an innovation ecosystem (not a traditional product company) that brings together researchers, industry, government and community to meet the big challenges of regional Australia. The portfolio includes the Global Digital Farm (Australia's first fully automated commercial farm), Cool Soil Initiative, BioSolutions Innovation and Knowledge Hub (joint venture with Elders), Renewables in Agriculture Centre of Excellence, Innovate at Charles Sturt programs (Startup Year, First Nations Innovators Program, First Nations Health Innovation Initiative, Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge), Charles Sturt Winery, and Commercialisation and Innovation support. The ecosystem leverages a 1,600-hectare commercial farm, world-class environmental laboratories, rhizolysimeter, phytotron, glasshouses, research winery, food technology facilities, and veterinary clinical centre. Programs support entrepreneurship, innovation development, and agricultural research across bio-solutions, digital agriculture, soil health, and renewable energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Digital Farm: Australia's first fully automated, hands-free, commercial farm demonstrating the future of farming through technology and data innovations
• Cool Soil Initiative
• Renewables in Agriculture Centre of Excellence
• Charles Sturt Winery
• BioSolutions Innovation and Knowledge Hub

Products and services

• Startup Year - Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program A six-month part-time Australian Government-supported pilot program helping students and graduates take startup ideas and entrepreneurial skills to the next level with a focus on regional Australia. Comprises six subjects (two new Charles Sturt subjects and four micro-credentials), with eligibility for STARTUP-HELP loans and an Industry Stream enabling employer sponsorship of recent graduates.
• First Nations Innovators Program A 10-week entrepreneurial program delivered with The Scale Institute that builds innovation and entrepreneurial capability for Indigenous Australians, drawing on Indigenous-led facilitation and mentorship to support commercial ventures in food production, technology, skincare, beauty, health, wellness and medicinal products.
• First Nations Health Innovation Initiative A Charles Sturt University fully-funded initiative combining academic frameworks with community-based experiences to develop health innovations through an Indigenous lens, supporting Indigenous-led health innovation capacity building.
• BioSolutions Innovation and Knowledge Hub A joint venture partnership between Charles Sturt University and Elders (Australia's leading agribusiness) to establish an Innovation and Knowledge Hub. Drives innovative agricultural solutions to market through independent validation, commercialisation, demonstration, adoption and extension activities focused on sustainability and productivity.
• Global Digital Farm Australia's first fully automated, hands-free commercial farm that demonstrates the future of farming through technology and data innovations. Used as a 'living lab' for trialling renewable energy integration, digital agriculture and agritech solutions.
• Renewables in Agriculture Centre of Excellence A Centre of Excellence that identifies opportunities for integrating renewable energy on-farm and develops projects to drive innovation, using the Global Digital Farm as a 'living lab'. Management assumed by AgriPark in January 2026 from Food Agility CRC.
• Cool Soil Initiative An initiative that supports farmers in exploring practices to improve soil health, increase yield, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to sustainable agricultural production.
• Charles Sturt Winery A research winery and vineyard at the Wagga Wagga campus, with a Cellar Door, focusing on excellence using state-of-the-art winemaking technology, supporting wine industry research, training and commercialisation.
• Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge An innovation challenge addressing packaging challenges facing the wine and fresh food industries, run at the Wagga Wagga campus as part of AgriPark's Innovate at Charles Sturt program.
• Introduction to Innovation workshop A two-day workshop program part of Innovate at Charles Sturt that nurtures agrifood tech ventures working to unlock solutions for feeding a growing population.
• Commercialisation and Innovation support services AgriPark's support services for moving agricultural research from concept to commercialisation, providing infrastructure, networks and expertise to partners, researchers and student entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96 intact soil monoliths in Southern Hemisphere's largest root growth research facility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2025A joint venture partnership between Charles Sturt University and Elders (Australia's leading agribusiness) to establish the BioSolutions Innovation and Knowledge Hub. The partnership drives innovative agricultural solutions to market, fostering advancements in sustainability and productivity through independent validation, commercialisation, demonstration, adoption and extension activities.
• AgriFuturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural research and development body partnering with AgriPark on innovation initiatives and programs supporting the agriculture sector.
• Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting grains research and development, aligned with AgriPark's innovation programs addressing challenges in the Australian grains industry valued at $65 billion.
• Department of Primary Industries (DPI) NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department collaborating on agricultural research, development, and innovation initiatives in New South Wales.
• Food Agility CRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative Research Centre that developed the Global Digital Farm and Renewables in Agricultural Centre of Excellence with Charles Sturt. AgriPark assumed management of these initiatives in January 2026.
• Hort InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development corporation for the horticulture industry partnering with AgriPark on innovation initiatives.
• Geoscience AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational mapping agency providing geospatial data and expertise supporting agricultural research and innovation projects.
• Gulbali InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharles Sturt University's research hub for agriculture, water and environment, providing deep research expertise that underpins AgriPark innovation activities.
• Regional Development AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government initiative supporting regional development through innovation partnerships in the Riverina region.
• Southern NSW Drought Resilience HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrought resilience initiative partnering with AgriPark on agricultural innovation for drought-affected communities.
• Riverina Local Land ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government organization supporting land management and agricultural development in the Riverina region.
• Genetic HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWagga Wagga-based genetic research hub focused on agricultural genetics and breeding programs.
• Soil C QuestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization focused on soil carbon and emission solutions, aligned with AgriPark's sustainability research initiatives.
• Bridge HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub providing startup support and agricultural technology connections within the innovation ecosystem.
• The Scale InstitutecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndigenous owned and led organization delivering the First Nations Innovators Program and First Nations Health Innovation Initiative, providing culturally appropriate facilitation and mentorship.
• ChemCertminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural chemical training and certification organization supporting safe handling and application training.
• FutariminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting innovation and development initiatives within the agricultural sector.
• Hutcheon and PearceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural machinery dealer providing equipment solutions and support.
• PyrusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent services provider supporting AgriPark events and innovation showcases.
• David Brown ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm providing expertise and support for innovation programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen is the world's leading agricultural university, operating a comparable model of university-based research institutes, pilot farms, and industry-partnered innovation programmes across food and agriculture. Both organisations sit at the intersection of applied agricultural science, education and commercial partner development.
• Rothamsted Research: Rothamsted is the world's oldest agricultural research station and operates long-term field experimentation, agronomy facilities and industry-partnered translational research. It mirrors AgriPark's combination of heritage, dedicated research infrastructure and commercial farm platform.
• University of Adelaide Waite Campus: The Waite campus co-locates agricultural, wine and food science research with industry partners and research infrastructure, including the Australian Plant Phenomics Network. It is one of the strongest Australian analogues to AgriPark's crop-and-soil research focus.
• Harper Adams University: Harper Adams is a UK agricultural university operating a working commercial farm (the Future Farm), precision-agriculture demonstration, and industry-partnered innovation activities. It is one of the closest international analogues to AgriPark's innovation-ecosystem-on-a-farm structure.
• AgResearch (New Zealand Crown Research Institute): AgResearch is a government-backed agricultural research institute running science campuses with farms, laboratories and commercialisation pathways. Like AgriPark, it pairs public-sector mandate with industry-funded applied research and has a similar scale of regional operational footprint.
• La Trobe University AgriBio Centre: La Trobe's AgriBio is an Australian university-based agricultural biosciences research centre with PC-level laboratories, industry partnerships and translational research focus. It is a domestic peer operating a similar model of co-located research, training and industry engagement.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (France): INRAE is France's national research institute for agriculture, food and environment, operating experimental farms, laboratories and innovation platforms. It is comparable as a state-backed agricultural R&D body but is much larger and broader in scope than AgriPark.
• CSIRO Agriculture and Food: CSIRO is Australia's national science agency and runs large-scale agricultural research programmes including phenomics, soil science and digital farming. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities in Australian agricultural R&D and innovation.
• Purdue University College of Agriculture: Purdue is a major US land-grant agricultural university combining research farms, phenomics facilities, industry partnerships and an innovation/entrepreneurship pipeline. AgriPark mirrors its land-grant model of applied agricultural research co-located with industry.

Emerging players

• Sprout Agritech Accelerator (New Zealand): Sprout is an agtech accelerator that supports early-stage agrifood ventures with mentorship and industry connections. It is comparable as a regional agrifood-innovation funnel, though it lacks AgriPark's owned physical research infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/charlessturtuni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CharlesSturtUni
• Facebookfacebook.com/charlessturtuni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csu-agripark
• Instagraminstagram.com/charlessturtuni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Charles Sturt - AgriPark