When I got a chance to head to evokeAg this year, I heard Jocie Bate speaking and thought to myself, we need to get her on the podcast!  I came across an extraordinary character whose ideas may just revolutionise the future of agriculture. "It's amazing how quickly the sector is evolving," says Jocie Bate on her mission to fully automate the paddock with robotics.

Jocie Bate and her husband, Andrew, founded SwarmFarm Robotics, a pioneering agtech business transforming how we think about farming systems. From growing up on her families grazing property in rural Queensland to co-founding one of Australia's leading ag robotics startups, Jocie shares her journey through finance, family farming, and the bold leap into agricultural innovation. The conversation explores the dynamic of family partnerships, women in agriculture, bootstrapping a startup, and what the future of farming could look like.

Chapter
00:00 Exploring Modern Agriculture

03:07 The Journey of Swarm Farm

05:47 Building Strong Partnerships in Agriculture

09:09 Innovations in Farming Technology

12:08 The Evolution of Swarm Farm

14:50 Navigating Funding and Growth

18:06 The Future of Agriculture and Robotics

20:47 Lessons Learned and Personal Growth

23:55 The Role of Technology in Agriculture

26:45 Engaging the Next Generation in Ag Tech

Connect with SwarmFarm:

• Website: swarmfarm.com
• Instagram: SwarmFarm IG
• Youtube: SwarmFarm

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EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com