In the heart of Queensland's agricultural region, SwarmFarm Robotics is revolutionising farming practices with their innovative autonomous agricultural robots. Founded by Andrew and Jocie Bate on their family farm in Gindie, near Emerald in Central Queensland, SwarmFarm has grown from a farmer's vision into a world leading agricultural technology company.
The company received a timely boost on their innovation journey in 2018 through Advance Queensland's Ignite Ideas funding, enabling them to accelerate the development of their autonomous farming solutions. This support has helped position this regional Queensland business at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
Transforming Agriculture Through Innovation
SwarmFarm's autonomous robots are designed to perform precise farming operations, from spraying and weeding to mowing and seeding. Their technology allows farmers to implement site-specific crop management strategies with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.
"Traditional farming equipment has become larger and more complex, but bigger isn't always better," explains Andrew Bate, CEO and founder of SwarmFarm Robotics. "Our approach focuses on smaller, smarter machines that work together to optimise farming operations while reducing soil compaction and environmental impact."
Queensland-Grown Success
The company's success demonstrates Queensland's capacity to nurture world-class agricultural technology businesses. SwarmFarm has delivered more than 135 robots now improving farming efficiency across over 6 million acres across Australia, helping growers improve productivity while reducing their environmental footprint.
Key achievements include:
- Development of multiple autonomous robot platforms
- Successful deployment across various agricultural applications
- Creation of high-skilled technology jobs in regional Queensland, including 17 staff designing and building robots
- Significant reduction in chemical usage and soil compaction on participating farms
Environmental and Economic Benefits
SwarmFarm's technology delivers substantial benefits to both farmers and the environment:
- Up to 80% reduction in chemical usage through precise application
- Decreased soil compaction due to lighter machinery
- Improved crop yields through more timely and precise operations
- Reduced labour costs and increased farm efficiency.
Future Growth
With support from Advance Queensland's Ignite Ideas funding, SwarmFarm was able to expand its operations and develop new applications for its autonomous platforms. The company's success story exemplifies how Queensland's innovation ecosystem supports businesses in developing globally competitive technologies.
"The support from Advance Queensland has been instrumental in helping us bring our vision to life," says Bate. "We're proud to be developing technology that not only benefits Queensland farmers but has the potential to transform agriculture globally."
SwarmFarm Robotics represents the exciting future of agriculture, where innovation, sustainability, and productivity converge. Their continued growth and success demonstrate Queensland's leadership in agricultural technology and innovation.
About Ignite Ideas
The Ignite Ideas Fund provides grants of up to $200,000 to help small and medium businesses commercialise innovative products and services that have reached the viable product stage.
Strengthening Queensland's position as an innovation hub by supporting businesses to enter new markets and attract investment, while also offering additional business development support through the Ignite+ program which includes mentoring, networking, and expertise in areas like marketing and intellectual property.
Last updated: 05 Feb 2025