Farmers on Kangaroo Island will have access to cutting-edge agricultural technology trialled in local conditions through a new $1 million AgTech Hub to be established on the island.
As part of the AgTech Hub, an AgTech Extension Officer will be appointed for two years to manage the facility and oversee long-term project plans.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the Marshall Liberal Government had worked closely with the Morrison Coalition Government to secure $1 million for the Kangaroo Island AgTech Hub from the Regional Recovery Partnership.
"Driving AgTech adoption across South Australia is a key focus for the Marshall Liberal Government and we are proud to be delivering AgTech solutions for our farmers," Minister Basham said.
"Being able to establish a fourth AgTech Hub is another step in the right direction to harness the economic growth AgTech offers which could lead to an extra $2.6 billion value in agricultural production per year.
"The Kangaroo Island AgTech Hub will support producers to adopt cutting-edge technologies to create change that enhances the profitability, resilience and sustainability of primary production on the island.
"The Extension Officer will have a key role to play in establishing and managing the AgTech Hub that we will be putting in place on the island to assist primary producers to access the most relevant technologies and up-to-date information.
"Central to the uptake of technology applications is ensuring that primary producers understand the solutions, and how to appropriately deploy, connect and integrate these options to their farm business. Demonstration of technologies on-farm will make this easier for producers.
"These hubs also allow us to work directly with entrepreneurs and developers to ensure they understand the key challenges on Kangaroo Island and develop solutions that are grounded in the realities of primary production there."
The Kangaroo Island AgTech Hub joins hubs already established in the Riverland at the Loxton Research Centre, in the South East at the Struan Research Centre, in the Barossa at the Nuriootpa and Turretfield research centres, and on the Eyre Peninsula at the Minnipa Agricultural Centre.
AgTech demonstration farms will be established on the island with the first AgTech demonstration field days and tours to be held in 2022.
