The ARM Hub team were out on the road in Toowoomba this week, meeting regional pioneers who are shaping the future of Australia’s AgTech sector. The visit was part of our ongoing work to understand operations first-hand, meet innovators where they are, and identify where automation and AI can unlock meaningful commercial value. 

Supporting Horticulture with automation 

Withcott Seedlings, located just outside Toowoomba, is one of the East Coast’s major suppliers of vegetable and tree seedlings. Founded by Graham and Wendy Erhart and now family-owned alongside Mike and Anita Hindle, the business is led by CEO Mike Hindle and backed by Cibus Fund, a sustainable food and agriculture investor. 

The nursery operates advanced water recycling and biosecurity systems, producing a wide range of grafted and organic seedlings for growers across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 

For ARM Hub, visiting Withcott Seedlings provided a valuable opportunity to examine commercial-scale horticulture, and explore where AI and robotics could streamline production, reduce manual load and support long-term scalability. 

“Regional Australian‑made businesses are growing rapidly, and many have a real appetite to automate and upgrade, whether it’s infrastructure, accessibility or workforce training. They’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the AgTech sector,” said ARM Hub Engineering Lead Vignesh Suresh. 

“Withcott Seedlings is one of the few companies actively protecting biodiversity while supplying specialised seedlings that are increasingly difficult to procure.” 

Scaling Homegrown AgTech Commercially 

Founded in 2015 by Andrew and Jocie Bate on their family farm near Emerald, SwarmFarm Robotics has grown into one of Australia’s standout AgTech success stories. 

Their lightweight autonomous SwarmBots handle spraying, spreading and mowing with precision, reducing herbicide use by up to 95 per cent and cutting fuel emissions by 35 per cent. Today, more than 250 SwarmBots operate across 10 million acres. 

“My highlight was seeing a world‑class robotics solution being built in a regional backyard at SwarmFarm. Watching them produce and scale such a strong local innovation in real time was incredible,” said ARM Hub CCO Samuel Jesuadian.  

“We’re here to support that rapid growth and help drive their enterprise‑wide digital transformation and AI adoption.” 

Linking Industry with Research Expertise 

A final stop brought the team to UQ Gatton, where they were hosted by the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability. The visit reinforced our connection with the research community and highlighted the vital role academic expertise plays in advancing Australia’s AgTech sector. 

“At UQ Gatton, you can really see the opportunity emerging across animal science and AgTech. The sector is becoming increasingly data‑driven, and that shift has opened doors for entirely new market possibilities,” said Samuel.  

“ARM Hub sits right in the middle of that data‑streamlining journey, from federated data systems to predictive analytics. We help turn unknowns into opportunities by enabling forecasting, decision‑support and AI‑powered insights. 

About us 

The ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre exists to deliver value for businesses facing challenges in adopting AI technologies, such as data readiness, limited expertise, and uncertainty about costs. Funded by the Australian Government under the AI Adopt Program, the centre empowers SMEs to enhance operations, boost productivity, and achieve sustainable growth through responsible AI adoption. 

Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for upcoming opportunities in this space.