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Eight Aussie startups named on FoodBytes shortlist

Eight Australian startups have made the final 45 for Rabobank’s FoodBytes Pitch program, which aims to help emerging food and agriculture companies drive innovation and change.

Australia has strong recent history in the event as Perth-based precision irrigation startup Swan Systems won last year’s overall agtech category prize while New South Wales-based ProAgni was a finalist in the same category.

The eight startups who were named as finalists, plus their purpose according to Rabobank, are:

Fable: Plant-based meat alternative.

Ulu Hye: Plant-based milks.

Your Food Collective: Locally grown, ethically sourced groceries.

Great Wrap: Plant-based, compostable stretch wraps.

AgriDigital: Digitised platform streamlining the grain supply chain.

AgUnity: Technologists integrating remote farming communities with global supply chains.

ThinkBio: Biological products enabling growers to minimise synthetic fertilisers, and optimise yields.

TranspiratiONal-SBM: Biodegradable polymer membrane maximising yields and minimising negative environmental impacts.


AgUnity is one of the Australian startups in RaboBank’s FoodBytes final 45

The 45 startups named as finalists will be whittled down to 15, who will compete in a livestreamed public pitch competition in November.

One winner will then be named in each of the three categories; agtech, food tech and consumer packaged goods.

Rabobank’s head of innovation Chamidu Karunathilake says 31 of the 45 shortlisted companies directly address areas of food and agriculture that have been affected by COVID-19 and credits Australia for its high representation among the finalists.

“Australian entrepreneurs have shown tremendous resilience and have continued to innovate during the global pandemic,” he says.

“To have eight Australian companies featured in the global top 45 is a testament to the entrepreneurship in this country.”

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