Agriculture
Elevating agri-businesses through diversification
In the agri-business sector, our agricultural consulting services are tailored to drive growth and add substantial value to your operations and region. We focus on broadening your footprint, increasing productivity, and diversifying revenue streams, all while prioritising environmental sustainability. Our expertise includes guiding you through essential strategies such as value-adding and revenue diversification into agritourism, as well as seamlessly integrating agri-tech solutions for enhanced efficiency.
Case Studies
Shaping the future of Australia’s insect industry
AgriFutures Australia engaged Sparrowly Group and Tenacious Ventures to refresh its Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Plan for the emerging Australian insect industry. Their objective was to identify the barriers inhibiting growth and give the Australian insect industry a significant boost towards long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
OUR APPROACH
We began by understanding the dynamic landscape of the insect industry, paying particular attention to innovations in using black soldier fly and crickets as staples in human food, pet food, and animal feed markets. The analysis spanned both domestic and international markets and included a review on their regulatory environments.
To ensure the Plan was endorsed by industry, we consulted with insect farmers, researchers, and upstream/downstream customers. This paved the way to identify five thematic areas of focus and associated activities that were subsequently prioritised through an industry survey.
In the final Plan we presented prioritised strategies and activities, with an emphasis on broad industry applicability and ensuring optimal utilisation of the limited resources available.
IMPACT
The Plan highlighted high priority actions such as the development of guidelines for insect husbandry and biosecurity standards, and research into sustainability efficacy. It has been endorsed by the sector’s representative body, the Insect Protein Association of Australia (IPAA).
AgriFutures Australia is now using the Plan to direct their RD&E investments into the insect industry.
The Plan can be viewed here.
Farming smarter for the future
The adoption of technology in the agricultural industry (agritech) is a key enabler to ensure the profitability and sustainability outcomes of the sector for the future. Smart farms are a place-based approach for validating and demonstrating the application of agritech in farming systems including tracking, monitoring and automating of agribusiness operations.
Smart farms are a priority for the Queensland Government and its Department of Agriculture and Fisheries QLD (DAF). DAF engaged Sparrowly Group to develop a business plan (the Business Plan) for a smart farm precinct based on a research farm in Emerald, Central Queensland. The key objective of the project was to develop a vision and business model for the smart farm, and then detail a strategic plan that would see that vision come to life with the precinct’s launch.
OUR APPROACH
We led an extensive stakeholder engagement process, across government, regional economic development groups, agribusinesses and technology entrepreneurs. During that process we were able to understand the value that a smart farm site would bring to the region, and determine the resources that would be needed to support it.
We strategically developed and proposed significant process changes in research, development and extension (RD&E) activities conducted by DAF in the region. We also recommended the smart farm site deliver technology insights to local agribusinesses since this would provide the added benefit of attracting technology entrepreneurs to the region. Each of these would then lead to greater opportunities in the agritech industry for the region.
In strategically developing the implementation plan for the site, we needed to also identify the technical and data infrastructure requirements necessary to support the plan. To develop these, we assessed the existing communication connectivity options available for the site as well as what was being used in the broader region. We also included launch and implementation requirements for both staff and smart devices in our plan.
IMPACT
The Business Plan has proven foundational in establishing key elements of the smart farm precinct leading up to its launch. On site it has provided a blueprint for the precinct’s on-farm connectivity solutions. Additionally, it has been leveraged for accelerating stakeholder engagement including co-design activities with industry and research partners.
Image credit: Swarm Farm Robotics.
