A new Australian agriculture technology fund is targeting the labour shortage crisis by funding early-stage businesses automating manual processes from pollinating flowers to monitoring soil moisture.

Cultiv8 Funds Management and Fidante have joined forces to launch a fund that identifies and invests in early-stage agricultural and food technology companies.

Wagga Wagga-based connectivity company Zetifi announced today that it has raised $12m through a Series A funding round with participation from existing investor Cultiv8 Funds Management.