The Harvest Accelerator is a three-month program designed to equip high potential agtech, food tech or value-added food and beverage businesses with the capabilities they need to scale into national and international markets.

The program will be open to up to 10 applicants which should be Australian agrifood tech, food tech or value-added businesses looking to scale operations in a current market or new customer segments. 

The 10 positions in the cohort consist of:
- Grains sector - two positions (sponsored by Grains Research and Development Corporation)
- Red meat and livestock sector - two positions (sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia)
- Tropical North Queensland - two positions addressing identified producer problems (sponsored by the JCU and TNQ Drought Hub)

- Up to an additional four positions in agrifood (selected by Farmers2Founders)

This year, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is sponsoring two spots for participants to partake in the project. The GRDC is hoping to attract innovative grain industry representatives with an idea to improve the industry. 

GRDC manager Commercialisation AgTech, Tim Spencer, said the Harvest Accelerator presented a great opportunity for grain growers and industry stakeholders to accelerate their business growth and get their products out to industry faster. 

"We sponsor this program as we're passionate about backing grain growers and industry representatives who are using innovation and technology to address the grains industry's issues and opportunities," he said.

Farmers2Founders co-founder and general manager, Skye Raward, said the Harvest Accelerator program would provide start-up businesses with the skills, connections and access they need to accelerate growth into dynamic, versatile markets. 

"We have developed high quality programming and partnered it with extensive support from a broad network of industry experts, mentors and investors to help agri-businesses level up their businesses," she said. 

"In the past, we've aided Australian agribusinesses with scaling their business by providing tailored support to suit their needs, giving them access to a broad network of mentors and experts and helping them establish tangible strategies to help them connect and sell to their target markets," Raward said.

Applications close 16 October. To apply visit https://www.farmers2founders.com