Better Outcomes, Not Lower Costs: rethinking agtech in horticulture, with Mark Trzaskoma

While agtech often celebrates breakthrough technologies that can slash costs for farmers, what if the real value of innovation lies somewhere else entirely?

In this episode, Mark Trzaskoma joins Dr Madeline Mitchell to explore what agtech adoption actually looks like on the ground at Battunga Orchards, a 180-hectare orchard operating across three sites in Victoria.

From mechanised harvest platforms to canopy redesign and data collection tools, each decision at Battunga is guided by a “test, measure, learn” approach, focused on yield, quality, and long-term performance rather than short-term efficiency gains.

Mark also shares a cautionary insight: optimizing for cost can actually reduce productivity. His experience of hitting cost targets in pruning, only to see production decline, highlights a broader challenge in agriculture: efficiency is not the same as effectiveness.

Mark and Maddie discuss:

• Why agtech often delivers value through better outcomes, not lower costs.
• Why cost-cutting can undermine productivity in biological systems.
• The realities of working with early-stage, evolving agtech products.
• Labor constraints and their role in driving automation in horticulture.
• Bridging the growing disconnect between producers and consumers

Useful Links:

• Battunga Orchards from the air, Warragul, Victoria, Australia
• Future Orchards® | Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL)
• Food Traceability QR Codes
• Investment Notes: Agovor
• How small growers think about agtech - Tenacious Ventures
• Getting agtech ready - Tenacious Ventures

For more information and resources, visit our website.

The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

• [00:7:20] Agtech drives better outcomes, not just lower costs.
• [00:10:30] Cost-cutting can reduce yield.
• [00:26:30] Why growers and consumers are disconnected.