New AgTech scholarship set to bear fruit

A new partnership between the State Government and the University of Adelaide to deliver an AgTech PhD scholarship is open for applications.

The three-year scholarship is part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s AgTech agenda, identified as a key growth area to help South Australian farmers to do their share to boost agriculture to a $100 billion industry in Australia by 2030.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said the State Government funded scholarship provides an exciting opportunity for students to research cutting edge technology in agriculture.

“The Primary Industries AgTech Post Graduate Scholarship supports the practical application and adoption of AgTech in South Australia and is designed to create further innovative thinking in agriculture,” said Minister Whetstone.

“Agriculture is becoming an increasingly sophisticated industry and meeting its challenges will require innovative solutions.” Professor Michael Liebelt, University of Adelaide Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Operations) and Dean of Graduate Studies

“The Marshall Liberal Government is proud to fund this excellent opportunity to build on AgTech research in digitally enhanced agricultural solutions and I’d encourage anyone interested to apply.

“The scholarship is a collaboration between the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Adelaide and builds on the recently announced partnership fostering greater investment and delivering economic benefits to the state’s primary industries.

“As part of the State Government’s AgTech agenda, the scholarship complements the newly formed AgTech Advisory Group which is providing advice on a coordinated and long-term approach to the development and uptake of technology in agriculture in South Australia.”

University of Adelaide Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Operations) and Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Michael Liebelt, said the new scholarship was a great opportunity to advance innovation in AgTech.

“Agriculture is becoming an increasingly sophisticated industry and meeting its challenges will require innovative solutions,” said Professor Liebelt.

“One of the great benefits of the new PIRSA-SARDI partnership with the University of Adelaide is the ability to work across traditional boundaries to bring new technologies into agriculture – embracing the University’s expertise in areas such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve the problems of agriculture for our future.

“This is very much in keeping with our new strategic plan, Future Making, which aligns us with state and industry need making agrifood and wine, one of our key strategic industry engagement priorities.”

Expressions of interest close on 20 November 2019.  For more information, visit ua.edu.au/agtech