Girls to power ag-tech boom

01 February 2025
Dr Jaime Manning handles a calf next to a group of school students.
Dr Jaime Manning leads students on a farm tour

By Mary Bolling

Want to be a leader on the land, or an innovator feeding future generations?

Young women across regional Queensland are invited to achieve their agriculture dreams - and be part of the ag-tech revolution set to grow Australian food and fibre production by $20 billion a year. 

The GrowHer program is transforming the future of agriculture, equipping female students across years 7-12 to gain skills, mentoring, and industry connections for ag-tech careers. 

The groundbreaking new project aims to inspire a new wave of “agri-preneurs”, living in regional Queensland and designing innovative solutions for agriculture. 

CQUniversity’s Agri-tech Education and Extension team is offering the free initiative with AgriBusiness Connect, Australia’s leading agriculture innovation accelerator. 

Secondary students from Rockhampton, Townsville and Toowoomba regions can apply now for 2025 intakes, with a range of events and activities across April to June. 

Students, schools and industry mentors can learn more and apply at the GrowHer website.

Applications close for the Rockhampton cohort on February 28, and participants will attend a one-day workshop at the CQU Rockhampton North campus.  

With hands-on access to the latest ag-tech tools and systems, they will tackle problems faced by the industry, alongside a range of mentors assisting them to ideate and pitch a solution to a scenario. 

Dr Jaime Manning, Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at CQUniversity, said participants will form teams to tackle real agricultural challenges, and design ag-tech solutions. 

“You don’t need to have a background in farming, or even a lot of experience with technology – GrowHer is a chance to get first-hand insight into the industry, then share your fresh ideas about improving productivity and sustainability through ag-tech,” she said. 

“The future of our food production is something that affects us all, and this is a great opportunity to inspire regional young people to be part of the huge transformations in Australian agriculture.

“GrowHer will ensure young women are equipped to thrive in the world of ag-tech - it’s the gateway to shaping the future of agriculture.”

The GrowHer program is on a mission to empower young women across regional Queensland, providing 450 students with the skills, mentorship, and connections to thrive in AgTech. Visit www.growher-agtech.com/ to learn more.

Transcript

Growher is a groundbreaking free program designed to empower the next generation of female agri-preneurs from regional Queensland.

 

We’re on a mission to upskill 450 regional young women in grade 7-12, providing them with the mentorship, hands-on experience, and industry connections they need to thrive in the world of AgTech. This is more than just a program—it’s the gateway to shaping the future of agriculture.

 

According to the Australian Farm Institute, digital technologies have potential to increase the value of production in Australia by over $20 billion per year… (Show source info on slide: Source: Australian Farm Institute)

 

And a recent report by the Queensland government forecast that by 2029, more than 40% of jobs in agriculture will be transformed by technology and one in three new jobs created in agriculture will be technology related. (Show source info on slide: Source: Queensland AgTech Roadmap 2023–2028)

 

GrowHer participants will get the chance to work in teams to create AgTech solutions for real-world agricultural challenges. Then they will pitch their ideas to their peers, sharpening skills in innovation, teamwork, and communication.

 

The winning team will become part of the exclusive GrowHer delegation at a Queensland innovation event to further develop their idea and immerse themselves in the AgTech ecosystem.

 

Are you ready to shape the future of agriculture? Apply now, and get the tools, support, and inspiration you need to succeed with GrowHer.

The Australian Farm Institute estimates that digital technologies could increase the gross value of production in Australia by more than $20 billion per year, in the decade to 2030.

And the Queensland AgTech Roadmap 2023–2028 predicts one in three new jobs in agriculture will be technology-related. 

AgriBusiness Connect’s Agtech & Logistics Hub Manager Owen Williams said the GrowHer Program is critical for inspiring the next generation of leaders in ag-tech innovation. 

"AgriBusiness Connect is thrilled to partner with CQUniversity on GrowHer. By providing access to mentoring, skills development, and industry connections, GrowHer is creating pathways for these young women to drive innovation and shape the future of food and fibre production,” he said. 

Over three years, the GrowHer project will support 450 female participants to innovate, collaborate, and lead in agriculture's tech-driven future, supported by Advance Queensland funding.

Each year, winning teams of participants will represent GrowHer at an innovation event, to further developing their idea and grow industry connections.

Learn more and apply now at the GrowHer website. GrowHer is proudly supported by Advance Queensland, as part of the Regional Enablers Program.