From the green revolution after WWII to GPS-guided tractors and today’s explosion of sensors, satellites and AI, agriculture has undergone significant technological transformations at key points in time. What began as mechanical innovation has evolved into a data-driven revolution – reshaping how farmers grow, manage, and make decisions on the land.
The BCG Ag Tech Expo at Charlton Park on Wednesday 16 July will open with a keynote that captures this evolution, and looks ahead to what the next 200 seasons could hold for Australian agriculture.
Hamish Munro, co-founder and CEO of Pairtree Intelligence, is from Orange in New South Wales and is the first guest presenter on the agenda with 200 More Seasons, a thought-provoking session that explores how far farming has come and why data, and the stories it tells, will define the farmers of the future.
“We’ve come through Ag 2.0, the post-war green revolution, through to Ag 3.0 and 4.0, where GPS, sensors, robotics and AI have entered the scene,” Munro said. “But if we want technology to work for us in the future, we need to feed it the right information now.”
Drawing on his own experience as a fifth-generation farmer and tech entrepreneur, Munro will explore why data matters – not just for today’s decisions, but for the next 200 seasons.
“Just like we’ve inherited the decisions made by our parents and grandparents, the next generation will inherit ours,” he said. “The quality of the data we collect now will shape the tools they use to grow food, manage risk, and adapt to climate and market change.”
The keynote sets the tone for a day of practical, farmer-first conversations around automation, sensors, remote management, livestock technologies and innovative approaches to weed control.
BCG Communications Officer and Expo coordinator Jess Bidstrup said Munro’s message resonates with growers across the Wimmera and Mallee.
“Hamish reminds us that this isn’t just about the latest tech – it’s about combining our lived experience with quality data to build a stronger future. When we connect tradition with innovation, we create a legacy that helps the next generation farm smarter, not harder.”
The BCG Ag Tech Expo will be held on Wednesday 16 July, 8:30am–3:00pm at Charlton Park, VIC. Entry is free and open to all members of the farming community. Attendees are encouraged to register on the BCG website. For more information or to register, visit www.bcg.org.au.
