Crop cooling spray and a saliva test to breed worm-resistant sheep were the agri-tech solutions claiming top honours at the Farmers2Founders International Agrifood-Tech Pitch Challenge.

The sell-out sideline event of Melbourne’s evokeAG showcase saw 10 international and local startups go head to head, pitching their agri-tech solutions to top investors, government and industry leaders.

Global startup Cooling Crops received the judge’s choice award for its sprayable powder to reduce heat stress in soil and crops by as much as six degrees.

Meanwhile, Swabtec’s saliva testing system for breeding worm-resistant sheep saw the Victorian-based venture claim the people’s choice award.

“This challenge connects top-tier international agri-food tech startups with some of the industry’s most influential decision makers to drive real investment and outcomes in agriculture across the world,” Farmers2Founders co-founder and executive director Skye Raward says.

“The calibre of this year’s pitches was second to none, and the event curated a commercial environment which will not only accelerate the real-world deployment of these concepts, but secure their success,” she says.