Key takeaways
The GroWQ Innovation Expo was held in Longreach on July 30-31, 2025, offering a comprehensive program designed to advance the livestock, land, and businesses in Western Queensland. The two-day event, held at the Longreach Showgrounds, featured a combination of on-farm tours and an innovation expo with speakers, panels, and trade displays.
TNQ Drought Hub Director, Professor David Phelps took the opportunity to attend the event hosted by his local community and connect AgTech exhibitors with James Cook University researchers and other hub projects.
David said, “The AgTech ecosystem is constantly changing as new companies provide novel solutions to industry needs. Longreach has a history of innovation, and is an ideal location for this event with sheep, goat and cattle industries being complemented by the trialling of fodder crops in the district.
“The event showcased home-grown innovation, which included a cattle trading app, as well as tech from further afield such as an optial fibre tester which can measure wool in real time in the shearing shed. We aim to help share these innovations across our region so that people are as well infromed as possible about the potential solutions to their own business needs.”
Day 1: Property Tour
The first day of the event was a tagalong selfdrive tour property tour that gave producers a firsthand look at cutting-edge agricultural practices and technologies in action. The tour took participants to Terrick Terrick Station and Springleigh Station near Blackall to hear from Nev Kelly about the largest scale dorper (meat sheep) operation in Queensland and learn about the innovative technology the Banks family uses in their Merino operation (including wool scanners and streamlined databases).
Day 2: Innovation Expo
The second day was the main Innovation Expo, held at the Wool Pavilion of the Longreach Showgrounds. Over 200 participants took part in the day featuring 30 presenters and over 30 trade exhibitors, all focused on livestock, land and business innovation for cattle, sheep and goat enterprises.
The event provided producers with a wealth of information and practical insights. Key highlights included:
GroWQ Innovation Expo offered producers hands-on experiences, expert-led sessions on tech, finance and sustainability, ensuring attendees left armed with both ideas and direct connections to implement change in their businesses.
