2024 Qld Award
The 2024 Qld Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Andrew Bate, co-founder and CEO of SwarmFarm Robotics. The award was presented as part of the Pearcey Foundation National event on Tuesday 19 November in Brisbane.
Andrew is an entrepreneur and visionary leader in the robotics industry and at the forefront of transforming agricultural practices. Andrew has a passion for advancing technology underpinned by his deep understanding of both technical and agronomic dynamics. From his farming background and a curious mind Andrew's ability to merge visionary thinking with practical execution has garnered respect and admiration from peers and industry leaders alike.
Paul Gampe, Queensland chair, Pearcey Foundation, commented,
Andrew Bate embodies the qualities of a true visionary and inspiration for the next crop of farming enthusiasts. He is passionate about inspiring and supporting the next generation of innovators and building regional communities that promote STEM education and encouraging young people to pursue careers in technology, engineering and agriculture. Andrew’s approach to leadership, characterised by his generosity, vision, and dedication, serves as an inspiration to many and exemplifies the qualities of a true trailblazer .
Andrew Bate
Andrew founded SwarmFarm Robotics in 2012 with his wife Jocie convinced that robotics could change the face of farming. In 2016, they released their SwarmBot3 platform to manage swarms of real robots out working on commercial farms in Australia.
Robotics in agriculture has risks because of scale and the challenge to change the long history of "normal" agricultural processes. At a time when agriculture was largely untapped by robotic innovation, Andrew took a bold step to revolutionise the sector. Founding SwarmFarm Robotics, he ventured into uncharted territory, developing autonomous robotics systems that are set to redesign farming practices. This move was not without significant risk, as it involved considerable investment in unproven technology and challenging the status quo of traditional farming methods. His willingness to think outside the box, and step outside his comfort zone coupled with his commitment to this vision—despite the uncertainties —demonstrates his determination.
Andrew's readiness to challenge conventional practices and invest in innovative solutions has not only advanced SwarmFarm but has also set new benchmarks for the industry. From humble beginnings to a team of over 60 people, with over 100 robots and 200,000 hours of commercial operations, SwarmFarm Robotics is now expanding globally, with early success in the notoriously hard to enter US market.
Andrew has made a substantial and measurable impact on the environmental and agronomic systems, through SwarmFarm Robotics. The company’s autonomous agricultural robots have significantly improved efficiency, precision, and sustainability in agriculture, addressing critical global challenges such as soil erosion and herbicide resistance, and have saved over 4 million litres of chemicals from the environment. SwarmFarm’s technology has received international acclaim and has been recognized as a pioneering force in integrating robotics with agriculture. Andrew’s achievements are not just limited to commercial success; they have also influenced industry standards and practices on a global scale. His work has garnered attention and accolades from around the world, underscoring the profound difference he has made in his field.
See also
ABC News (19 Apr 2025) - Farmers develop 'autofill' tech so agricultural robots can operate around the clock
