Celebrating innovation with AFR BOSS Award Winner Food Ladder

We’re proud to congratulate Food Ladder on winning the 2024 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies Award in the Government, Education, and Not-for-Profit category. This award is a testament to the vision, commitment, and impact that Food Ladder brings to communities across Australia—especially in remote areas like Far North Queensland, where we’ve had the privilege of sponsoring a greenhouse project at Winton State School.

When Food Ladder applied for a grant from the Foundation, we were drawn to their groundbreaking approach and focus on educating young people. Food Ladder’s AI-driven greenhouses offer a practical, sustainable solution to the challenges that remote communities face in accessing fresh, nutritious food. In these regions, lengthy supply chains often mean that produce arrives wilted and nutrient-poor, if it arrives at all. But with Food Ladder’s greenhouse model, we are helping these communities cultivate fresh food locally, effectively transforming the longest food supply chains into the shortest, all while creating pathways for youth education and empowerment.

Our $30,000 grant has already made a profound difference at Winton State School. Food Ladder’s greenhouses are not only providing fresh produce but are also turning into essential teaching resources. By integrating lessons into subjects like science, math, and English, these greenhouses become “living classrooms” where students learn by doing. They analyse plant growth, understand carbon savings, and gain hands-on insights into environmental sustainability—all skills that will benefit their community and the planet.

For us, this is an investment in the future of this Far North Queensland community, and we’re thrilled to be part of an initiative that doesn’t just provide food but also fosters pride and ownership among the youth. We’ve seen children who may never have had the chance to grow food become enthusiastic about eating healthily, learning how their actions can impact both local and global sustainability.

The AFR BOSS award recognises Food Ladder’s ability to create lasting social impact. From offering climate-controlled greenhouses that produce year-round harvests to providing predictive data on local weather patterns, Food Ladder has developed a model that genuinely future-proofs food security in some of the harshest climates. It is inspiring to see the work we’ve supported recognised on a national stage, and it only reinforces our commitment to continue supporting this meaningful work.

Thank you to Food Ladder and all the communities involved. Together, we are transforming lives, cultivating resilience, and creating a sustainable future for remote Australia.