SwarmFarm Robotics, which took out the 2026 Henty Machine of the Year Award for its AutoFill system, is a good example of why protecting agtech can involve much more than filing one patent.

The message from evokeAG 2026 in Melbourne was clear: Australian agriculture is changing fast — and regional producers are right at the centre of it. From autonomous robots and virtual fencing to biosecurity, climate resilience and patient investment capital, this year’s event focused on one big question: How do we turn bold ideas into practical tools that actually work on farm?