In Queensland’s Redland City Coast Council, high technology innovation and uptake has led to significant growth in the region’s agricultural output – to the tune of $146 million.
Redland City Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Julie Talty, said agricultural technology – or agtech – was just one sector that would contribute to the future growth of knowledge-intensive jobs in Redlands Coast.
Cr Talty was on the ground during the first Redlands Coast AgTech Field Day at the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Redlands Research Centre.
Cr Talty said the Redlands Research Centre was pivotal in allowing the Coast to evolve with the advancements of technology.
“While Redlands Coast has evolved from its mostly rural past, rural enterprises are still very important to our economy,” Cr Talty said.
“The latest data shows that the total value of agricultural output in Redland City last financial year exceeded $146 million. This comes as our agricultural industry faces strong challenges, not the least from higher productivity farming in other regions and competition for land use.
“But we see advancements in technology and the work of the Redlands Research Facility as key to strengthening our agricultural sector and ensuring it continues its legacy on Redlands Coast.
“Council’s Redlands Coast Rural Enterprises Industry Sector Plan 2019-2024 outlines how we can best support our rural enterprises industry sector and strengthen its linkages with other key industries in the city.”
Councillor Rowanne McKenzie said the technology on show at the Redlands Coast AgTech Field Day, attended by local, regional and interstate businesses, highlighted how rural production processes could be made more efficient, leading to better products and making businesses in the industry more competitive.
“I would like to make special mention of the work being done in this area by the likes of FlyFarm, Lyro Robotics, Bitwise Agronomy and Mexx Engineering,” Cr McKenzie said.
“They are showing the way, especially in the area of farm automation, robotics and 24/7 farm management.”
Cr Talty said Redlands Coast AgTech Field Day was one of the many ways in which Council supported local industry.
“It also demonstrates the dynamic partnership between Redland City Council and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, which is helping to identify and develop local opportunities.”
