Oliver Roberts studied a Bachelor of Agriculture (2015) and a Master of Business Administration (2018) and graduated with more than 10 years of farm management experience under his belt having worked on his family’s dairy farm on the north-west coast of Tasmania since 2005.
Oliver reflects on his time at the University fondly as he remembers the field trips and camaraderie amongst the students and recalls lab classes dissecting the mysteries of animal and plant biology.
“There was something uniquely invigorating about donning our lab coats, gathering around the lab benches, and collaborating with fellow students to complete our practical tasks. Each experiment was like a puzzle, and piecing together the complexities of life under the guidance of our knowledgeable lecturers was an experience I will always cherish,” he said.
After graduating, Oliver moved to farm advisory and began working as a Product Manager at Sense-T, a partnership between the University of Tasmania, CSIRO, and the Tasmanian Government, working on the mobile pasture prediction tools.
At the same time (since 2014), Oliver was developing his passion project, Pasture.io, helping farmers worldwide achieve improved efficiency, higher profit margins, and greater peace of mind in an environmentally sustainable manner.
He then had a brief stint in Sydney managing the University of Sydney’s Robotic Dairy Operations, and at the same time developed his next agtech solution, Milkflow.io, a dynamic platform that helps farmers to plan and adjust milk production to inform accurate feed budgets.
Oliver said that his degree has been instrumental in his career, guiding him to his current role as CEO of Pasture.io.
“Each course within the degree program acted as a catalyst, bolstering my inherent understanding of farming cultivated from years of growing up on and managing dairy farm operations,” he said.
“I was able to blend practical experience with academic knowledge, leading to a more holistic understanding of the agricultural landscape. The business units provided an invaluable framework for corporate strategy, market analysis, and operational planning.”
“Moreover, the degree instilled in me a sense of resilience and adaptability, attributes that are crucial in the ever-evolving agtech landscape.”
Oliver now lives in Hobart and continues to manage Milkflow.io and Pasture.io. Looking towards the future, Oliver said that agricultural science in Tasmania will face the challenge of integrating technology, especially with the rise of synthesising plant and animal protein.
“Our main goal should be to adapt to and incorporate these technologies wisely. We must strive to use them as tools for sustainable farming and productivity, while maintaining a vigilant stance to avoid pitfalls. The future of agriculture rests in our ability to be flexible and innovative, without losing sight of our ethical and environmental responsibilities,” he said.