Central Victorian technology forged to withstand extreme weather conditions could be the edge needed for more companies to make their mark in the Middle East and north Africa.
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Our region has a burgeoning “agtech” sector helping farmers race to address challenges on their land with new technology.
On Wednesday, half a dozen central Victorian agtech businesses gathered in Bendigo to hear from Kassem Younes, who is with the Victorian government’s business office in Dubai and is director of trade for the Middle East and north Africa.
Mr Younes said many countries in the Middle East and north Africa were looking to agtech companies for solutions to water problems.
“They are looking for water management, waste management, irrigation. That’s where Victoria has strengths,” he said.
The comments came as several local companies considered ways to either move into or expand operations in the Middle East, the Central Victorian Agribusiness Forum’s Martin Szakal said.
They included Harcourt-based EcoThought. CEO Slade Beard said his company is currently working on technology to help farmers on large sheep stations better monitor water levels in tanks and troughs, including in South Australia near the Simpson Desert.
It is increasingly important work as farmers around the world figure out how to better manage water in the face of climate change.
“Right now, in this region (of South Australia)… if farmers want to maintain that awareness they need to drive around to every tank and trough every single day,” he said.
“On million-acre properties that is a significant impost in terms of labour just to check systems.”
EcoThought wanted to provide images and data of water in tanks to homesteads in areas which, for example, were outside mobile phone ranges.
The technology could one day be used in harsh environments like those found in the Middle East, especially as EcoThought developed ways to control remotely-based systems from a site in Bendigo.
In arid environments, machines ran the risk of overheating and Mr Beard said systems needed to be able to be monitored and switched to different modes as needed.
Mr Younes urged companies hoping to pursue international opportunities get in touch with Trade Victoria.
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