The Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA) is proud to announce that Patrick Filippi, Lecturer in Precision Crop Management at the University of Sydney, has been appointed as one of Australia’s Country Representatives to the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA), alongside Professor David Lamb, who has held the role for several years.

ISPA Country Representatives promote precision agriculture globally by sharing updates from their country, contributing to the ISPA newsletter, and helping connect international networks with local expertise and innovation.

SPAA is a national, grower-focused organisation dedicated to advocating for and extending precision agriculture practices across Australia. We host an annual Precision Ag Expo and, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, the now bi-annual Precision Ag Symposium—both of which bring together farmers, researchers, and industry leaders.

SPAA currently leads major GRDC-funded initiatives, including the Grain Automate project, which aims to accelerate the adoption of machine automation, autonomy, and digital technologies in the grains industry, and a new VRT project, focused on supporting adoption of variable rate fertiliser application to improve nutrient use efficiency. Our work centres on extension, education, peer-to-peer learning, and communications. We engage with growers, consultants, agronomists, researchers, universities, and the wider agricultural industry to strengthen skills, build confidence, and drive adoption of better farming practices and data-driven decision-making on farm.

Patrick is an active member of SPAA, contributing to the editorial sub-committee (including Precision Ag News), helping to shape the speaker program for recent symposia, and supporting the education component of Grain Automate.

His appointment is an opportunity to share Australia’s grower-focused approach to precision agriculture with the global community and to strengthen SPAA’s international presence. We look forward to building on this connection and exploring opportunities to collaborate with international colleagues in the years ahead.