Purpose /

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Finding, building and investing in high-potential opportunities to solve real world challenges in the ag sector.

Igniting agtech innovation for a better New Zealand.

Food production is becoming increasingly complex and its future less certain due to environmental, regulatory, financial and societal obligations. To ensure our farmers and growers are here for the long term, we need to bring smart, tested, practical solutions to market faster.

Agnition believes that with knowledge, creativity and partnership we can solve these challenges and secure a sustainable future for our farmers, growers, their communities and our motu.

Focus /

Our focus is on ventures and solutions that can be winners at the intersection of science, business, and on-farm benefits.

Where we look for opportunities
Our verticals are soil health and nutrient management in the ag sector.

What we offer
For innovators we offer the chance to scale-up rapidly through our network of pilot farms. For farmers and growers we offer a glimpse into the future by seeing first-hand new technologies and innovations working in the field. And for the ag sector we offer innovation through new technologies, solutions and insights.

How we accelerate on-farm adoption of new technologies
We find opportunities from our innovation pipeline, our portfolio companies and people who live and breathe the ag sector.

Through our network of leading pilot farms, we can rapidly test innovations under a range of conditions.

Our deep partnerships with roughly half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s farmers and growers mean that we can rapidly scale-up innovations to national level.

Portfolio /

Our portfolio of innovators

We bring together smart people with a common goal – to quickly deliver practical solutions to secure a sustainable future for our farmers and growers.

Southstar

Using compounds found in nature to enhance nutrient uptake and reduce losses, Southstar Technologies creates sustainable micro-nutrient fertiliser coatings that are safe on our environment, and for those who use and consume them.
EcoPond

EcoPond is an effluent treatment system which removes virtually all methane, e.coli bacteria and leachable P emitted from dairy farm effluent ponds with an additive normally used in the treatment of drinking water.
C-Dax

For over 40 years C-Dax has led the field in developing innovative technology solutions, including sprayers, spreaders, pasture meters and robotics, to deliver real efficiency and sustainability to farmers.
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ARL

Our state-of-the-art Analytical Research Laboratories offer an extensive range of soil, plant, feed quality, water and effluent analysis suites essential to measuring and managing the health and productivity of soil, crops and animals.
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CarbonCrop

CarbonCrop was founded in 2020 with the goal of using remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence to precisely map, monitor and measure different tree species - particularly complex, biodiverse native forests - making it easier for landholders to earn carbon credits in the New Zealand ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme).
Cropmark Seeds

For over 20 years, Cropmark Seeds has been breeding and supplying pasture and forage varieties that deliver improved yield, greater nutritional values and disease resistance, coupled with the ability to provide more quality forage when most needed.
Aimer

Aimer's mission is to develop a cost-effective AI-driven solution that enhances farm profitability by optimising pasture management through actionable insights, delivered via a farmer-centric user interface.
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Invest Inya Farmer

Invest Inya Farmer is on a mission to break down the barriers between the people who grow our food and everyone who eats it. The IIF app allows users to invest in farmers and the food they produce, providing farmers access to capital outside of traditional debt.
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Leaft Foods

Leaft Foods, founded in 2019, has set out to work in partnership with existing agricultural systems, by creating an integrated system that significantly reduces the environmental impact of farming on the planet, while producing sustainable food ingredients and products.

Company /

A history of innovation

Agnition builds on Ravensdown’s more than 40-year legacy of enabling smarter farming for a better New Zealand. Its nutrients, fertiliser, expertise and technology help more than 15,000 farmers reduce environmental impacts and optimise value from the land in a truly integrated way.

"Out here, it's nature that calls the shots."

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Our team /

Agnition’s executive team is proud to continue Ravensdown’s heritage of working together on the science of improved productivity and sustainability.

Jasper van Halder

Jasper van Halder

CEO

Ex McKinsey & Company

Elliot Mercer

Elliot Mercer

GM Innovation

Ex Fletcher Building innovation & sustainability, PwC

Wilson Huang

Wilson Huang

Senior Associate Ventures

Ex Plant & Food research

Dan McLaughlin

Dan McLaughlin

Digital Lead

Ex Deloitte digital

Shikha Poonia

Shikha Poonia

Commercial Growth Manager

Ex HSBC, Johnson & Johnson, PwC

Dr Robert Murray

Dr Robert Murray

Technology Innovation Manager

PhD in precision agriculture

Dr Hendrik Venter

Dr Hendrik Venter

Soil science and technology

PhD in chemistry and soil science

Daniel Pranic

Daniel Pranic

Corporate partnerships

Ex CBA, Chrisco, Kiwibank, Tait

Simon Dearsley

Simon Dearsley

Design director

Ex Microsoft, Nokia

Christy Chapman

Christy Chapman

Agtech growth specialist

B. Agriculture & Ravensdown

James Martin

James Martin

Innovation Associate

B. Agriculture & Ravensdown

Our board /

Garry Diack

CEO - Ravensdown

Garry has nearly 40 years’ experience in organisational strategy work for a variety of Australian, New Zealand and American corporate entities. He specialises in strategy formulation/facilitation, organisational design, organisational performance and strategy, corporate performance, leadership development, governance and education.

Nicky Hyslop

Director - Ravensdown

Nicky farms an intensive sheep, beef and arable property in South Canterbury. She was a farm management consultant for 15 years. She is an experienced governor including directorships with Opuha Water, Irrigation New Zealand and Beef+Lamb NZ.

Tony Balfour

Independent Director

Tony is a vastly experienced and successful leader in a broad range of industries and geographies, with a passion for premium consumer-led businesses, and innovation and strategy that delivers results, not complexity. His focus is on bringing fresh consumer, brand and digital thinking to Board level conversations. He previously worked for companies such as Nike, Seek.com and Icebreaker, and is now on the board of The Warehouse Group, Les Mills international and RealNZ.

Contact /

Let's talk.

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292 Main South Road, Hornby, Christchurch 8042; PO Box 1049, Christchurch 8140

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