Regional girls to reimagine agriculture through GrowHer

By Lucy Stafford

Becoming a leader in agricultural technology isn’t just a possibility for regional girls in Queensland, it’s a path they can start growing right now with the 2026 GrowHer Program.

Applications are officially open for the 2026 program, inviting regional Queensland female students in Years 7-12 to step into a world of leadership, creativity and future-focused careers in agriculture and AgTech.

Delivered through a collaboration between CQUniversity’s Agri-tech Education and Extension team and AgriBusiness Connect, GrowHer is a free, fun and future‑shaping initiative designed to empower girls to become future leaders and innovators in the agricultural industry.

Following the success of the 2025 program, which engaged close to 150 students across regional Queensland, GrowHer 2026 will again provide hands-on learning experiences, industry connections and mentorship opportunities that showcase the rapidly evolving world of agricultural technology.

Teams of students from Cairns, Longreach, the Sunshine Coast and surrounding regions are encouraged to apply for the one‑day workshop, where they’ll work together to design clever AgTech solutions to real-world challenges faced by today’s growers and producers – think creativity meets problem‑solving meets a whole lot of fun.

Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at CQUniversity Dr Jaime Manning said GrowHer is helping young women see the breadth of opportunities available in modern agriculture.

“Agriculture today is driven by innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, and GrowHer gives young women the opportunity to experience that firsthand,” Dr Manning said.

“This program helps students build confidence, develop practical skills and connect with industry mentors, while showing them that there are exciting and meaningful career pathways available in AgTech and agriculture.”

Participants will work alongside industry mentors and innovators, level up their teamwork and communication skills and pitch their AgTech ideas to their peers, all while discovering how diverse and dynamic a career in agriculture can be.

The program comes at a critical time for the sector, with digital transformation reshaping how agriculture operates. Research from the Australian Farm Institute suggests digital technologies could increase Australia’s agricultural production value by more than $20 billion annually. 

At the same time, forecasts from the Queensland Government reveal that by 2029, over 40 per cent of agricultural jobs will be transformed by technology, with one in three new roles expected to be technology‑related.

Dr Manning said GrowHer is more than just a learning experience. 

“The program acts as a launchpad into Queensland’s innovation ecosystem,” Dr Manning said. 

“The winning team from each location will earn a place in the exclusive GrowHer delegation at a Queensland innovation event, where they’ll further develop their ideas, expand their networks and experience AgTech innovation up close.

“GrowHer is all about planting the seeds of innovation, collaboration and leadership, and giving the next generation of agri‑preneurs the confidence to grow their ideas into something extraordinary.”

GrowHer is one of 15 initiatives supported under the Queensland Government’s Regional Enablers Program (REP). REP amplifies local innovation by supporting organisations delivering capability building, digital adoption, and innovation driven growth across regional Queensland.

Applications are open to individual students or teams of three to four students from regional Queensland who can attend one of the program locations. Applicants must submit either a written Statement of Intent (maximum 500 words) or a one-minute video outlining their motivation to participate. Applications can be completed in approximately 20 minutes, with supporting materials able to be uploaded at a later date prior to the closing deadline.

Students, parents and teachers can apply online via the survey. To learn more about GrowHer, visit the website. For enquiries, email the agri-tech education team.

Applications close Thursday 24 April 2026.

This initiative is supported by the Queensland Government.