A pressing issue for both the Japanese and Australian agricultural sectors is how to leverage technology in order to improve productivity utilising fewer resources while increasing earnings for growers.

The Australian Embassy Tokyo will participate for the first time in this year’s second AG/SUM, introducing Australia’s latest technologies and its domestic ecosystem for developing AgriTech.

AG/SUM is an event hosted by Nihon Keizai Shimbun to showcase today’s AgriTech, a neologism for agricultural technologies, and its future possibilities to domestic and international audiences. AG/SUM is a venue for agricultural specialists from Japan and abroad, cutting edge farmers, members from start-ups, corporate leaders and agricultural policymakers to meet and present positive solutions.

SproutX, an Australian accelerator geared towards agriculture, as well as the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), AgriFutures Australia, an Australian Government funded research and development organisation, will be attending the symposium

Please see the link for details.

<Speakers Profiles>

Tony Mahar

Tony Mahar joined the NFF as General Manager, Policy and Manager, Economics and Trade in July 2012. In December 2014 Tony was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and since April 2016 has held the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Tony has outstanding experience in policy development and implementation in the food and agribusiness sectors and has worked extensively with executive level leaders in analysing, developing and influencing key policies and programs relating to industry competitiveness, innovation and sustainability.

His focus at the NFF has included managing economic policy, trade market access advocacy and competition policy.
Tony’s 20 year history in the public and private agribusiness sector has contributed to his exceptional capacity to lead and work with a range of stakeholders including all levels of industry, government and community organisations on a range of complex issues.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce from the University of Sydney, a Masters of Business – Industry Strategy from the Australian National University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

John Harvey

John Harvey joined AgriFutures Australia (formally RIRDC) in May 2016 as Managing Director. He accepted the challenge to set a new, more commercial direction for the organisation.
Mr Harvey aims to make AgriFutures a change agent for transforming existing industries with new technologies and seeding new, high value industries that ensure Australian agriculture continues to grow.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Harvey held various positions at the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) spanning 18 years, including five years as Managing Director.
A graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mr Harvey was a Director of Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited and a Director of the Value Added Wheat Cooperative Research Centre.
BSc (Rural) Hons (University of New England), Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew Lai

Andrew Lai is a co-founder and the Accelerator Director of SproutX, the world’s most active investor in early stage agtech companies. With a $10m follow on fund, SproutX is Asia Pacific’s first agtech dedicated venture capital fund. SproutX currently has 19 active startup company investments in diverse areas of agriculture who have raised millions in funding and revenue.