Dr Jamie Manning, GrowHer Participants, Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett
Young, female agri-prenuers from across regional Queensland have come together at the 2025 GrowHer competition to claim their Gatton AgTech Showcase prizes.
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The competition, held at the Department of Primary Industries Gatton Research Facility and Smart Farm saw teams of Year 7 to 12 female students selected earlier this year from regional events in Rockhampton, Townsville and Toowoomba.
Each group competed against others from their region in a pitch competition where they worked with an industry mentor to develop a solution for an agricultural problem of their choosing.
Project lead and CQUniversity senior lecturer in agriculture Dr Jaime Manning says she felt the first round of the competition unearthed some future leaders.
“The judges were very impressed with many of the pitches and that made choosing a winning team tough at all three events, a problem which we were glad to have,” Jaime says.
“Now we are moving on to the next phase of GrowHer, where we take our winning teams and expose them to some of the cutting edge agri-tech ideas that are being used in Queensland today,” she adds.
“We are excited to create this opportunity to expose these young women to the world of AgTech – events like this are the gateway to shaping the future of agriculture.”
At the showcase they had the opportunity to immerse themselves in how innovators and producers are working together to enhance farm productivity, sustainability and profitability.
The winning team from the program’s inaugural year
The program featured 16 dynamic 30-minute sessions over two days designed to explore the tangible benefits of agri-tech solutions for various agricultural sectors, including horticulture, protected cropping and broader farming practices.
The Advancing Young Female Founders through AgTech by GrowHer Program is on a mission to empower young women across regional Queensland, providing 450 students with the skills, mentorship, and connections to thrive in agtech.
Designed for students in years 7-12, GrowHer equips the next generation of agri-preneurs with the tools to innovate, collaborate, and lead in agriculture's tech-driven future.
GrowHer is a three-year program running until 2027.
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