Gatton Smart Farm

Farming is changing and one Lockyer Valley farming business is leading the way with cutting-edge technology that’s making growing vegetables easier, more efficient and more sustainable.

Troy and Brad Qualischefski, who run Qualipac, have embraced the future of farming by introducing the FarmDroid - an autonomous, solar-powered seeder and weeder that’s already delivering impressive results.

Working with DPI’s Principal Development Horticulturist Julie O’Halloran and the Gatton Smart Farm team, the ideal ways to operate and cost benefit analysis have been completed.

This industry and research partnership has attracted national attention when the FarmDroid partnership was featured on ABC Landline and won a national horticulture award, highlighting how automation is extremely newsworthy as growers respond to rising costs, labour shortages and the need for more sustainable farming practices.

The FarmDroid arrived at Qualipac in 2023, and by 2024 it had autonomously seeded and weeded 80 hectares of broccoli. Rising costs and labour shortages had been putting pressure on the business, so the family decided it was time to try something new - and the FarmDroid didn’t disappoint.

The FarmDroid uses GPS technology to plant seeds with pinpoint accuracy, recording the exact location of each one. Later, it returns to those same spots to mechanically weed around the plants. This precision has led to a 95% germination rate, compared to 85% with conventional methods and reduced plant loss to just 1% compared to up to 8.5% in traditionally planted fields.

Beyond agronomic benefits, the FarmDroid is delivering measurable economic gains. By reducing labour, fuel and maintenance costs, Qualipac has achieved a 6.9% improvement in gross margins per hectare.

The success of this work was recognised in 2025 when Troy Qualischefski received the UPL Tech and Innovation Award at the Australian Horticulture Awards, presented during Hort Connections. The award recognised Qualipac’s innovative adoption of the technology in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

“Over the two years that Qualipac has had their FarmDroid, there are very few ongoing maintenance and repair costs associated with the machine,” the Qualipac team noted.

DPI’s Principal Development Horticulturist Julie O’Halloran said, “We have been working with Qualipac to identify how these technologies impact agronomically and economically and also to understand their experience with integrating the new technology on farm – what had to change in their farming system, what worked well and what didn’t.”

“One limitation with FarmDroid has been that Qualipac has had to retain their pre-emergent herbicide program as the machine doesn’t control weeds that come up close to or next to the crop plants.

“However, FarmDroid now has the option for a spot-spraying add-on which means that pre-emergent herbicides could be reduced to just target where the seed has been planted, significantly reducing herbicide inputs.”With its solar-powered operation and potential to reduce herbicide use through optional spot-spraying, the FarmDroid is helping Qualipac farm more sustainably.

“By combining practical on-farm experience with research and evaluation, Qualipac is demonstrating how automation can help improve productivity, reduce input costs and support more sustainable vegetable production. Their experience shows that investing in AgTech isn’t just about keeping up with the times - it’s about thriving in the future of farming.”