Sandpit to Seed

The TNQ Drought Hub is excited to be working with James Cook University researchers to help them move their research ideas that could improve agricultural adaption, sustainability and resilience towards Proof of Concept, Prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development.

Sandpit to Seed funding aims to support projects, technologies and developments that will have a genuine impact on building resilience within Tropical North Queensland. 

So far in partnership, we have provided over $200,000 of funding to the following research projects including:

• Clean Meat: Accelerating clean fish-meat production at scale in the lab
• Bug Radar: A radar capable of detecting pests and small birds approaching a farm
• AutoFish: An automatic fish phenotyping tool for sustainable aquaculture and smart fisheries

Associate Professor Lionel Hebbard says “The Sandpit to Seed fund has been critical for our team to further develop our business model. It has enabled the team to acquire important infrastructure and to conduct crucial experimental work to improve the Technology Level Readiness of our potential products. Through Sandpit to Seed support, we have been able to identify potential collaboration partners and customers. This will hold us in good stead to be successful in commercial funding from traditional grant funding and/or start-up investment funding”.

For more information on Sandpit to Seed funding opportunities contact the hub’s Commercialisation Manager, Dr Mohammad Farjoo mohammad.farjoo@jcu.edu.au

Image (l-r): A/Prof Lionel Hebbard, Luke Deacon and Dr Craig McFarlane. Image supplied.