Innovation Synergy Series: Bridging Minds and Markets

THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

La Trobe invites you to our new Innovation Synergy Series: Bridging Minds and Markets, a speaker series, where we’re bringing the best industry leaders and La Trobe University’s leading academics to discuss hot topics. We’re bridging the gap between the industry market and the world’s best minds.

The first Innovation Synergy session will be uncovering all things agricultural technology (AgTech) and agricultural business (AgBusiness). Learn more about the intersection of technology and business in agriculture, and the capabilities required to lead in this transformative field and shape the future of farming and food production in Australia.

Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge AgTech and AgBusiness innovations such as precision agriculture, IoT, robotics, and AI, and learn how these technologies seamlessly integrate into business strategies to enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability.

La Trobe University’s research initiatives and collaborative projects are driving this transformation.

Details

Date: Tuesday 26 November, 4pm to 5pm
Venue: Digital Innovation Hub (L2, Jenny Graves Building, Melbourne Campus). Map Ref: 8G

Format: In-person

Speakers

Robert Grey, Director, Sustainable Future, Plug and Play Tech Center
Topic: Building a Global Agrifood Innovation Platform

Prof David Fleming-Muñoz, Agriculture & Resource Economics, La Trobe Business School
Topic: Evaluating Innovation Impact: Data-Driven Insights from Agri-food Domestic and Export Markets

Alastair Delooze, Oceania Business Development Manager (New Markets), DENSO
Topic: Solving the conundrum of technology adoption

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Robert Grey, Director, Sustainable Future, Plug and Play Tech Center

Robert has over 10 years of international experience having worked across startups and corporations in biotech, pharma, food, agtech, and AI in 5 countries. He was instrumental in taking one startup public in 2020. He now leads the Sustainable Future Pod at Plug and Play, driving innovation between startups and corporates at the nexus of society and environment.

Professor David Fleming-Munoz, Agriculture & Resource Economics, La Trobe Business School

David is a Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the La Trobe Business School and co-leads the ‘Food Business, Food Security and Digital Agriculture’ domain at the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food—LISAF. He is also an Honorary Senior Fellow at the UQ School of Economics. David has over 20 years of policy and research experience in Australia, Chile, the United States and New Zealand, where he has led various research projects and grants. He has authored more than 60 research papers and scientific reports, including publications in leading journals such as Nature, Food Policy and the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. In 2020 he won the Award for Best Paper published in the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Alastair Delooze, Oceania Business Development Manager (New Markets), DENSO
Alastair is the Business Development Manager for DENSO in Melbourne and is currently involved in offering high-tech greenhouse design and development projects to the ANZ & ASEAN markets. He has 25 years of global experience in the technology and engineering sectors, with business conducted in over 40 countries and completed his MBA in 2022.

Alastair aims to use his vast experience to help the horticulture industry expand its ambitions in sustainability and automation.

Alastair’s mission is to use his varied background to deliver novel solutions to the agriculture industry and society as a whole.

He is co-ordinating this with his global contacts and as the commercial lead for DENSO in the ASEAN region.

This free in-person event is an invaluable opportunity for you to connect, collaborate and explore the future of agriculture with fellow innovators, professionals, academics and researchers.

Find out how La Trobe University and its partners are at the forefront of agricultural innovation, and how we can be part of your exciting journey.

Further information

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