AgriFutures Request for Tender: Workshop facilitation for autonomous solutions in agriculture

⁠⁠⁠AgriFutures Australia is seeking the services of a suitably qualified facilitator to lead a discussion(s) around autonomous vehicles and solutions for high value specialty crops with a range of industry stakeholders.

It is envisaged that the discussion(s) will involve the broader stakeholder network, allowing them to contribute their capability and experience to the conversation, to enlighten attendees from Rural Research & Development Corporations (RDCs), producers, and solution providers as to how the high value specialty crops could be serviced by autonomous and/or robotic solutions companies various operation aspects.

The Provider will be responsible working with the identified Project Steering Committee to determine topics to be discussed in relation to automated and robotic solutions for high value specialty crops, arranging and facilitating online or in-person workshops, and developing any specific communications relating to the workshops. Following the workshop discussions, the Provider will need to report back on findings and provide recommendations for next steps for future work in this space, particularly focusing on where collaboration between RDCs will lead to stronger outcomes for all.

The project should be undertaken through several phases as described below:

Phase 1: Define the outcome of the discussion and what questions need to be asked and answered.

Work with the Project Steering Committee made up of representatives from RDCs to determine the questions that need to be asked to bring clarity around: What is the opportunity for autonomous and/or robotic solutions for various operation aspects in Australian high value specialty crops?

In consultation with the Project Steering Committee determine the structure of the facilitated discussion(s) and who should be part of the discussion. It is expected that, at a minimum the following groups would be involved: RDCs representing high value crops, producer representatives from high value specialty crops, solution providers, interested stakeholders.

Prior to holding the workshops determine with the Project Steering Committee, who should be part of the conversation I.e., sector contractors, producers, supply chain, legislative, digital, and mapping, government, venture capital/investors etc, determine what questions need to be asked and what success would look like at the conclusion of the project.

Service requirement: The Project Steering Committee will be in place so costs should not be included to establish the committee. However, all aspects of running the Project Steering Committee meetings should be factored into the project budget, e.g. invitation, meeting organisation and logistics, agenda and facilitation. It is expected that the Project Steering Committee would meet online, 2-3 times over the life of the project.

Phase 2: Facilitated discussion

Conduct an online or in-person facilitated discussion(s) working through the questions as determined in Phase 1 jointly with the Project Steering Committee. The facilitator would be required to drive the direction of the conversation and document key points and findings from the discussion. The costs associated with the online/in-person workshops will be negotiated with the successful provider.

Service requirement: All logistics and management associated with running the facilitated discussion will be the responsibility of the service provider in consultation with AgriFutures Australia Program Manager. At this stage, the preference is to hold a face-to-face discussion, dependent on the operating environment at the time. The proposed project budget should be costed for a face-to-face discussion.

Phase 3: Report on findings

Provide a summary report to the Project Steering Committee. The report should include a summary of the discussion, key points, and next steps to bring the problem and potential solutions together. Provide a clear path forward for discussions to continue between solution providers and RDCs. Develop potential research questions that could be addressed to resolve issues that came out of the discussion.

Examples of issues that could be explored through the workshop:

• What automated technologies already exist and how widely available and adopted are they? Focus on agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industries as well as other Australian sectors.
• What policy and regulatory requirements exist in the operation of robotic or automated machinery for high value or specialty crops?
• Do we have the right skills and manufacturing for high tech manufacturing of autonomous machinery?
• What is the business case for autonomous vehicle companies to distribute and maintain an ongoing service for automated vehicles in Australia? Or is there a business case for Australian companies to thoroughly explore this market?
• What are the barriers to autonomous technology developers operating in high value speciality crops in Australia?
• Is it to do with market size perhaps or concern from autonomous developers about operating in our regulatory environment? 
• What barriers, either legislative, geospatial, or otherwise, do we need to overcome to see companies bring this technology to Australia and provide ongoing service and support?
• What are the barriers to adoption of higher value horticultural crops/tree/vine crops? Is it the market is perceived as too small here, do we need to build our own, is it legislative/regulatory barriers (for both producers adopting and tech companies coming here)? 

The final report will be developed using AgriFutures Australia’s National Rural Issues report template in word format to be designed by AgriFutures Australia. No design costs for the summary should be bu