On The Land
8 March, 2026
Regional girls to reimagine agriculture
BECOMING a leader in agricultural technology isn’t just a possibility for regional girls in Queensland, it’s a path they can start growing right now with the 2026 GrowHer Program.
Applications are officially open for the 2026 program, inviting regional Queensland female students in Years 7-12 to step into a world of leadership, creativity and future-focused careers in agriculture and AgTech.
Delivered through a collaboration between CQUniversity’s Agri-tech Education and Extension team and AgriBusiness Connect, GrowHer is a free, fun and future‑shaping initiative designed to empower girls to become future leaders and innovators in the agricultural industry.
Following the success of the 2025 program, which engaged close to 150 students across regional Queensland, GrowHer 2026 will again provide hands-on learning experiences, industry connections and mentorship opportunities that showcase the rapidly evolving world of agricultural technology.
Teams of students from our region are encouraged to apply for the one‑day workshop, where they will work together to design clever AgTech solutions to real-world challenges faced by today’s growers and producers.
Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at CQUniversity Dr Jaime Manning said GrowHer was helping young women see the breadth of opportunities available in modern agriculture.
“Agriculture today is driven by innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, and GrowHer gives young women the opportunity to experience that firsthand,” Dr Manning said.
“This program helps students build confidence, develop practical skills and connect with industry mentors, while showing them that there are exciting and meaningful career pathways available in AgTech and agriculture.”
Participants will work alongside industry mentors and innovators, level up their teamwork and communication skills and pitch their AgTech ideas to their peers, all while discovering how diverse and dynamic a career in agriculture can be.
The program comes at a critical time for the sector, with digital transformation reshaping how agriculture operates. Research from the Australian Farm Institute suggests digital technologies could increase Australia’s agricultural production value by more than $20 billion annually.
At the same time, forecasts from the Queensland Government reveal that by 2029, over 40 per cent of agricultural jobs will be transformed by technology, with one in three new roles expected to be technology‑related.
“The winning team from each region will earn a place in the exclusive GrowHer delegation at a Queensland innovation event, where they’ll further develop their ideas, expand their networks and experience AgTech innovation up close,” Dr Manning said.
Applications are open to individual students or teams of three to four students from regional Queensland who can attend one of the program locations.
Applications close on 24 April and more information can be found at www.growher-agtech.com
