Japanese Investment into Australian Agtech

With Australia having a strong international competitive advantage in agriculture, one key pillar has been the improvement in genetics to improve yields or feed conversion. However, another emerging pillar is the use of digital technology to contribute to increases in efficiency. An example of Japanese investment in Australian agtech has just been announced with Japan’s iconic Yamaha Motor Company. Established in the US in 2015, Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary, managing a US$100 million Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund. The scope of its investments include:

• Automation & Connectivity
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Robotics & Industrial Automation
• Unmanned Systems
• Precision Agriculture
• Personal Mobility & Electric Vehicles
• Life Sciences

The manager of the fund has just announced that it has led a A$11 million funding round for an Australian agricultural technology company, The Yield. The Australian company specialises in transforming farming practices through the application of digital technology.