Tasmanian takes out national dairy innovation award

Derwent Valley former dairy farmer and now dairy vet Grant Rogers has been named the winner of the 2025 Australian Dairy Conference Innovator Award.

Grant was recognised for developing the Knowby app, a game-changing digital communication tool that allows the production of quick visual step-by-step instructions and is now used across 30 different industries and 20 countries around the world.  

No stranger to innovation, the ex-Kiwi turned Tasmanian dairy farmer built his herd of 190 cows to 550 in a fully self-contained system using a mixture of NZ and Tasmanian technology which also won him the Tasmanian and Australian Low Input Dairy Business Award. 

Since selling his dairy farm Grant has reverted to his former career as a dairy vet, however while on the farm the Knowby platform was born from frustration with assigning tasks to farm staff and his inability to communicate accurately.

Seeking the most innovative ideas or research-backed projects, applications were narrowed down to a group of five finalists who presented their idea or research to the 650 delegates at ADC 2025 on the Gold Coast ahead of the awards announcement at a gala dinner last night.

A written application, video pitch and online interview formed the early part of selection criteria with the judging panel identifying projects of most relevance and impact to the Australian dairy industry

Grant will receive a $3000 travel bursary to assist in his ongoing professional development in his chosen field. 

Other ADC Innovator Award Finalists were:

1. Michelle Axford (LaTrobe University & DairyBio): Can we breed for calf health
2. Jose. A Lopez (Agriculture Victoria): New separation technology to recover nutrients and clarify dairy effluent
3. Davor Daniloski (University of Queensland): Why A2 dairy remains a challenge for farmers and the industry?
4. Dilini Weerathunga (Agriculture Victoria & University of Melbourne): Designing methane mitigating productive multi species pasture