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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-04 Daily Xml
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AgTech Growth Fund

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:26): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about AgTech.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The AgTech Growth Fund provides grants of up to $100,000 to incentivise private investment into technology innovations in South Australia's agricultural sector. I understand that the outcome of the latest grant round is yet to be finalised and is sitting with the minister's office for sign-off. Many startup companies that have applied for this grant are being affected by the delay and haven't been able to move forward with their innovative technologies. My questions to the minister are, could the minister please advise:

1. When did her office receive the department briefing on the outcomes and recommendations regarding the most recent AgTech Growth Fund grant round?

2. When will the outcomes of the AgTech Growth Fund grants be finalised and applicants informed of the outcome?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:27): I thank the honourable member for her question. AgTech of course is the rapidly evolving tools and technologies that enable agribusiness to innovate, grow and adopt more efficient production practices. South Australia has an AgTech Strategic Plan supported by the AgTech Advisory Group, and South Australia has also enhanced an agTech adoption conference, AdvanceAg. In 2023, in fact, Adelaide will host evokeAG, the Asia-Pacific's premier agrifood tech conference. I am advised that PIRSA is facilitating the development, commercialisation and adoption of fit-for-purpose and cost-effective AgTech solutions.

In terms of the exact day, I think the question was, that my office received the recommendations and the briefing, I will certainly go back and find out what that date is for the member, and certainly if she has particular interests in any of the applicants for the AgTech fund and wants to bring those to this place to discuss that might also be an excellent opportunity to promote some of our regional businesses, which of course are so important to our economy. I will look forward gaining the extra information that the honourable member has asked for, and I hope to be able to finalise details in regard to the funding to which she referred at the earliest opportunity.

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