SproutX, Australia’s national agtech innovation hub, has launched its first regional agtech centre in Mildura to ignite entrepreneurship across the Mallee region yesterday. In partnership with Mildura Regional Development (MRD), SproutX will open a co-working space at The Mill, Mildura’s newly established innovation space, and will mobilise a community to support startups in the agricultural space in the region. The hub will offer free space for eligible startups to work from and will give them access to the national SproutX network, including a number of community initiatives it runs across the Asia Pacific region.
Ruralco buys TEAM Irrigation
DUBBO-based irrigation company, TEAM Irrigation, has been acquired by the national Ruralco Water group. The business, which operates across the Riverina, Hunter Valley and southern Queensland, began as partnership between Bob Johnson and Craig Chandler (pictured) 15 years ago in a portable shed on Mr Johnson’s farm. The partners saw a customer service gap in the existing irrigation supplier market and took the opportunity to provide growers with equipment, design, installation and backup services they needed, especially at peak times. TEAM Irrigation swiftly grew to become one Australia’s larger regional irrigation equipment and service companies. The business will become part of the big Ruralco agribusiness group from March after the partners agreed there was only so far the two of them could take the company on their own.
New Export Council boss
THE Export Council of Australia (ECA), the peak body representing Australia’s industry promotion effort in overseas markets, has appointed Alina Bain as its new chief executive officer. Ms Bain starts the Sydney-based role on March 15, replacing Lisa McAuley, who has held the job since 2015. Ms Bain has extensive public policy experience after 10 years in senior executive roles for the broadcasting and advertising and marketing industries and recently a two-year appointment as CEO of the Australian Services Roundtable.
Packed citrus conference
TICKETS have sold out for the bi-annual Citrus Australia Market Outlook Forum – this year’s national event for the citrus industry. More than 150 representatives from the growing, packing and marketing sectors of the citrus industry will attend the event in in Sydney’s Darling Harbour on March 14 and 15.
