Agribusiness

The agriculture and food industry in WA is huge, with agribusiness (food, fibre and fisheries) contributing more than $8 billion every year to our economy. For the ICT gurus - technology plays a significant role in agribusiness. The sector uses leading technologies to ensure traceability of food products, to maintain WA's reputation as a major food exporter, and is continually improving scientific testing technologies.

Technology is also used to minimise the impact of seasonal variations, disease, pests, weeds, chemicals and other risks to the industry. With around 14,000 farms in WA, remote-sensing and satellite imaging technologies are put to good use in obtaining accurate pasture growth rates.

WA is an industry leader in applying climate change technologies in activities like mapping soil moisture and wheat yields and remote-access real-time weather forecasting. Irrigation technology is important in sustainability, and computer-controlled systems reduce impacts and increase water and nutrient availability - while computerised horticultural systems increase production.

WA is strong in agribusiness R&D, and there are many research organisations and CoEs in agri-technologies - opening up further avenues for those interested in agribusiness R&D.