Wee Waa innovation set to be in the spotlight at Cotton Conference

Growers, researchers, agronomists, agricultural professionals, agtech suppliers and industry leaders will descend on the Gold Coast next week for the Australian Cotton Conference.

Among them will be Wee Waa-based Crop Capsules, which is set to pitch a cutting-edge biological pest control technology to the cotton industry as one of just 11 projects nationally selected to tackle some of cotton’s biggest future challenges.

Crop Capsules will present its project, Releasing beneficial mites to naturally manage spider mites, at the conference after securing funding through the Cotton Research and Development Corporation’s Innovation Call – a national search for bold ideas across three priority areas: preparing for a low-pesticide future, optimising nitrogen use and improving weed management.

This project will put nature to work in the cotton field, testing whether predatory mites can be released at scale to suppress two–spotted spider mites. An increasing challenge as resistance to chemical sprays accelerates.

Three innovative release methods will be evaluated: a dry granular system, a liquid-phase spray delivery system, and Crop Capsules’ novel biodegradable capsule technology.

The capsule system packages live beneficial mites in protective, plant-based capsules designed to shield them during deployment and release them directly into the crop environment.

Aerial distribution of the capsules enables precise, low-disturbance and fast delivery across broadacre cotton systems.

Field trials will assess predator survival and establishment, how effectively they suppress spider mites, and the resulting impact on crop damage.

By delivering the first field–scale evaluation of biological mite management in broadacre cotton, this work aims to identify delivery systems that are both practical for growers and effective under real–world, commercial conditions – helping lay the groundwork for more resilient, spray–free pest management.

Eleven projects were selected in March through the CRDC Innovation Call to carry out feasibility studies investigating innovative solutions to three cotton challenges: preparing for a low-pesticide future, optimising nitrogen use and improving weed management.

Backed by more than half a million dollars from CRDC following a national open call, the feasibility studies have since been carried out by some of the country’s leading startups, ventures, entrepreneurs, agribusinesses and research organisations. CRDC offered up to $50,000 to support each individual feasibility study across these three key priority areas.

From lightning-powered seed technology and AI-driven drones, to biofertilisers made from farm waste and nature-based pest control, almost $550,000 was shared across 11 projects delivering on CRDC’s Clever Cotton strategy.

Another one of the successful projects is Growth Agriculture, originally established in Wee Waa and now based in Goondiwindi, it’s set to pitch a cutting-edge circular-economy fertiliser to the cotton industry after being selected to tackle one of cotton’s biggest future challenges.

CRDC’s acting general manager, Innovation, Susan Maas said the Innovation Call was about turning breakthrough concepts into practical solutions for cotton growers.

Described as a competitive process, with cotton growers involved through the CRDC and Cotton Australia research panels, helping to prioritise projects.

“From AI to nature-based solutions, these ideas show just how bold and innovative the cotton industry has become,” Susan said.

“Investing early in feasibility studies like these gives innovators the runway they need to test big ideas with real impact.

“We’re excited to see these ideas move from breakthrough to reality, and to hear what the innovators have found as they present their findings to the industry.”

The successful applicants will present their completed feasibility studies at the conference’s Innovation Alley.

The feasibility studies will inform a subsequent funding round, where up to $500,000 will be available to successful innovators to deliver proof-of-concept projects within the Australian cotton farming system.