Wharf42 to take lead role at Silicon Valley event

Wharf42 founder Peter Wren-Hilton. Photo / File

The New Zealand ag-tech sector will have an opportunity to provide global thought leadership at a major Silicon Valley conference next year, says Peter Wren-Hilton, founder of Bay of Plenty technology consultant Wharf42.

The April 2016 conference How Digital Technology is Transforming Agtech is being co-organised by the SVForum with Wharf42, an SVForum Global Outreach Partner.

Mr Wren-Hilton said he was delighted Wharf42 had been selected to co-organise the event. Wharf42 is a co-founder of WNT Ventures, the Bay of Plenty's technology business incubator. The SVForum is a not-for-profit organisation that has fostered innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership within the Silicon Valley network for more than 30 years.

"In both New Zealand and the US, Wharf42 has been working with representatives of the farming, food processing, ag-tech innovation and ag-tech investor sectors. We strongly believe that emerging digital technologies have the potential to create a profound impact on the farm of the future."

Wharf42's involvement evolved from hosting Adiba Barney, the SVForum's president and chief executive, and Bill Reichert, managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, on a visit to several New Zealand cities in April.

Mr Wren-Hilton said the visitors were impressed by the innovation they saw.

"But both repeatedly commented that they were surprised that New Zealand was not adopting a greater thought leadership position around ag-tech trends and opportunities in Silicon Valley," he said.

"We believe the New Zealand ag-tech sector can take a significant global thought leadership position in helping determine the long-term direction that this impact will make."

The conference will explore how emerging digital technologies such as robotics, drones, sensors and big data are creating more sustainable agri-business opportunities for the future. Wharf42 is working with Callaghan Innovation and NZ Trade & Enterprise to leverage the opportunity.

Ms Barney said digital technologies had been having an increasingly significant impact on both the farming and the food processing sectors.

"As the world faces the urgent need to increase food production by 70 per cent, by the year 2015 to meet the demands of its growing population, digital technologies have the potential to disrupt existing agriculture models in both a positive and a sustainable way."