Farmbot Monitoring Solutions produces a range of wired and wireless remote monitoring products using the internet of things, tailored to farming.

The Telstra investment follows the recent launch of Farmbot's next-generation satellite connected monitor.

Farmbot says the raised capital and planned Series B funding (next year) will help turbocharge the company's international expansion to the United States after establishing itself as a leading Australian Agritech.

By extending its distribution network overseas, the company hopes to improve water management practices around the world.

Andrew Coppin, Farmbot managing director, said the business is focused on aligning its business goals with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

"By giving farmers real-time insights into their water storage and usage, we are creating efficiencies in the way water is managed which drastically reduces wastage and carbon emissions resulting from the manual checking of water in vehicles that is currently commonplace," Coppin said.

"This aligns us with the UN Sustainable Development Goal number 6, to ensure the sustainable management of water for all."

In addition to priming the business for international expansion, the latest investment will support the development of Australian STEM talent.

Meanwhile, the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has outlined recommendations for improving telecommunications and connectivity in the bush in its submission to the Federal Government's 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review.

Advocacy for improvements to telecommunications continues to be a priority for the NFF and the NFF is a founding member of the Regional, Rural & Remote Communications Coalition (RRRC), a group of like-minded organisations committed to getting better communications outcomes for Australians outside city bounds.

To inform the submission, the NFF carried out a survey of 530 regional, rural and remote Australians to gauge the satisfaction of their communications experience.

NFF chief executive officer, Tony Mahar, said steadfast advocacy by the NFF and the RRRCC and government and private investment had seen monumental leaps forward in bush communications in the past decade.

However, the survey results were clear, there was more work to do.
The NFF's survey revealed a significant number of respondents reported the reliability of communications had declined in the past 12 months, with overall satisfaction reducing since the last survey was carried out in 2018.

Fifty per cent of respondents said the reliability of their mobile network coverage had declined in the past year and 40 per cent said their internet coverage had also become less reliable. More than 80 per cent of survey respondents reported ongoing reliability issues with their landline.

The NFF's survey also found one quarter of survey respondents said they had no connectivity outside the home.

View the NFF's 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review submission here: https://bit.ly/3lxkCRk