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Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on Queensland-based small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working across agriculture, food and related technologies to apply for its next Innovate to Grow program. Source: Timberbiz Delivered as part of the Queensland Government-funded Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program, this research and development (R&D) training program guides businesses through developing and implementing research strategies with support from experienced researchers and industry mentors. Dr George Feast, CSIRO’s Director for SME Connect Programs, said Queensland businesses are brimming with fresh ideas, but turning those concepts into market-ready innovations requires the right mix of expertise, networks and funding. “We’re helping SMEs with a pathway from concept to commercialisation, with access to world-class researchers at regional Queensland universities, and matched R&D support – as well as support from our specialist team of facilitators,” Dr Feast said. A recent CSIRO report found collaborations with universities and research institutions helps SMEs develop new products and services, increase speed to market and address challenges and opportunities specific to their industry. Lloyd Tailby from Erkmark Australia completed CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow in 2025. “The program was a big help in guiding me to refine the problem and progress with collaboration,” Mr Tailby said. “This is a valuable program for any small business with good ideas who want to explore R&D opportunities.” CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Agriculture, Food & Technology – Queensland is open to SMEs developing or supplying solutions in: Agriculture technology (agritech) Food and beverage manufacturing Crop innovation Livestock and aquaculture Alternative proteins Packaging, handling and storage Transport, logistics and provenance Other For more information and to apply visit https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/funding-programs/SME/Innovate-to-Grow/Agrifood-and-Technology-QLD/Apply

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RTA Studio’s housing system, set to launch next month, uses pre-cut cross-laminated timber panels to deliver a three-bedroom home, from factory to installation, in just six weeks. Source: Jason Ross, Woodcentral One of New Zealand’s top architects is days away from launching a new flat-pack housing system that could help solve the squeeze not just in New Zealand’s built-up cities but could be exported into global markets. Today, Wood Central spoke to Richard Naish, founder of RTA Studio, who presented the case for the Living House to the world’s top timber engineers at the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane. Naish—who is behind Scion House, one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and the new Fisher and Paykel headquarters, said the system consists of 36 pre-cut cross-laminated timber modules (supplied by Red Stag’s Timberlab operation. the country’s sole cross-laminated timber fabricator) and can be assembled by crews with little experience in cross-laminated timber: “The only specialist required is the crane operator.” Speaking to Wood Central from the sidelines, Naish said the 85-square-metre, three-bedroom house is carbon-zero, can be built in six weeks, and costs just $300,000 (including GST): “We have a nationwide building consent,” he said, “which allows us to ramp up delivery given New Zealand is home to one of the world’s least affordable housing markets.” According to Habitat for Humanity, 300,000 families in New Zealand live in less-than-adequate conditions. Around 4000 children wake up in a motel room every morning, and 27,000 are on the waiting list for Government housing and first-time home buyers, making the Living House a potential game changer for public and affordable housing. “Our system is pre-cut to site and has services mounted, which allows us to slash the labour costs dramatically,” Naish told the conference, making the installation costs much more affordable than traditional construction. “We also ran the numbers on timber frame cassettes and opted for cross-laminated timber given superior carbon sequestration.” Wood Central understands that the 3-bedroom home system optimises materials, streamlines suppliers, and requires a team of three for fast, straightforward assembly saving time, effort, and resources. Beyond finding an appropriate site, choosing a licensed builder and applying for site-specific permits and certifications, developers need to purchase a detailed design package from RTA Studios, decide on design pallets and appliances and order the modules. Naish’s presentation was one of dozens delivered on the fourth day of WCTE 2025, which featured keynote discussions from Katharina Lehmann, CEO of Blumer Lehmann, Ralph Belperio, Major Projects Director at Aurecon, and Harry Mills, from Built by Nature. Wrapping up tomorrow, more than 950 delegates will hear from Phillip Tondl, Design and Innovation Manager from Lipman, Guy Gardiner, founding director of Gardiner Vaughn and Gerald Epp, mass timber pioneer and founder of Structurecraft.

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Buildxact, a global software as a service (SaaS) company that provides a simple solution for small-to-medium sized residential builders and renovators to better manage and grow their business, launched an enhanced version of its platform. Source: Timberbiz Buildxact now includes three powerful AI-assisted features to empower small-to-medium residential home builders, renovators and contractors, to manage jobs more efficiently and to earn more profit. These features are delivered by Blu, Buildxact’s new AI-powered building assistant, and include Blu: Takeoff Assistant, Blu: Estimate Generator, Blu: Estimate Reviewer, and Blu: Recipe/Assembly Assistant. Blu: Takeoff Assistant allows the user to upload plans that can be automatically scaled in an instant. Additionally, the tool automatically names the pages based on information from the uploaded plan and includes the precise area of the project. The tool then provides a hands-free measurement of the spaces by drawing around the perimeters to capture the total square footage. In addition, new “point add” and “point edit” functionality allows a user to edit individual areas of the takeoff where needed, rather than the time-consuming task of deleting and starting over again. Blu: Estimate Generator gives the user the capability to generate labour and building items based on local data. The feature pulls pricing from supplier catalogues, including partners such as Dahlsens, Mitre 10, and Bunnings, to name a few. The first iteration of the feature can generate kitchen and bath renovation estimates, with expanded options such as whole-of-house builds, common extensions, and other common renovation type estimates launching in coming months. The new Blu: Estimate Reviewer feature can audit an estimate, giving suggestions on any missed items along with recommendations on how to improve an estimate. The user can enter important details like room types, environmental factors, and energy ratings to get detailed and accurate input. Blu will create a task checklist for any potential improvements, providing a list of suggestions from insurance to energy compliance. The user can mark items complete on the checklist as they are addressed. “AI is giving our users unprecedented control,” said Chris Rennie, chief product officer at Buildxact. “With these new features, users will win more quotes and keep projects running on time and on budget. The Blu: Estimate Reviewer is like sending an estimate to your own personal estimator to get feedback on items missing and other areas of concern, breaking through the ongoing challenge of too much work and not enough support.” Buildxact also is launching a customizable pricing structure to be more accessible to more of the industry that helps users grow at their own pace. Initial pricing gives them basic tools and allows for instant upgrades as their business necessitates and grows. Plus, each plan offers unlimited users and customer training and support. “Unlike rigid, one-size-fits-all software, we listen to our customers and build solutions for their real-world challenges, and we aren’t afraid to challenge ourselves to do that,” said Steve Yates, CEO at Buildxact. “We now offer unlimited users so an entire team can see the benefits without the extra cost. Plus, we’re offering industry-first, AI estimating that speeds up workflows and does the work for the user, without sacrificing accuracy.” In addition to these new AI features, Buildxact’s platform is boosted with the addition of digital signatures, timesheets, task lists, and enhanced client selections. The digital signatures feature allows users to sign quotes and variations quickly online for speed and better coordination with customers. Timesheet updates allow onsite crew to record time on each project by category and item level using the Buildxact Onsite app also automatically generating a work order to connect work hours and costs to the right project, category and item. Finally, enhanced client selections improve communications with the homeowner and empower them to make decisions quickly online so the project can be efficient and there is transparency choice by choice.

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The founder of Australia’s newest and, to date, its most ambitious build-to-rent developer will headline Timber Construct – the country’s only dedicated timber-in-construction conference.  Source: Timberbiz Andrew Dunn, organiser of the 13-14 October conference and exhibition, revealed that Rory Hunter, Australian entrepreneur and CEO of MODEL, will be the first keynote to address, “Building Beyond Convention – a Developer’s Timber Awakening.” “Rory’s MODEL is Australia’s first purpose-first build-to-rent development group, now using mass timber-led solutions to ‘flip the script on old ways of living and being,” Mr Dunn said. “His company is already planning to build 700 highly sustainable build-to-rent apartments (using mass timber) and recently secured a $250 million regeneration decarbonisation fund to build sustainable built-to-rent projects across Melbourne and the east coast.” Last year, Timber Construct revealed that MODEL, which announced plans to build two build-to-rent towers in Melbourne’s inner north, the first, a 17-storey 200-apartment tower in Abbotsford and a second, a nine-storey, 180-apartment scheme over the 1880s Schweppes Cordial factory, was looking to build up to 5,000 build-to-rent units over the coming years. “Build-to-rent projects are a major growth industry for mass timber-based construction, with mid-rise and high-rise residential buildings the new sweet spot for hybrid timber systems,” according to Mr Dunn, who said Georgia Coutsodimitropoulous will chair the session, Timberlink’s Marketing and Brand Manager, who, through NeXTimber, operates Australia’s first cross-laminated timber and glulam plant. In addition, Mr Dunn said the first day will also feature a panel discussion looking at the role of timber framing in solving Australia’s housing crisis. “Frame and truss are affordable, dependable and reliable, with Nick Hewson, the CEO of Aboralis, Barry Brunton from Legacy Engineering, and Dr Louise Wallis, from the University of Tasmania, looking at ways that we can use modern methods of construction to scale up production.” Mr Dunn said tickets for this year’s event are now on sale, with organisers expecting a larger turnout than in past years – both from Australians and visitors overseas: “As one of just three mass timber and timber frame focused industry conferences, our primary focus is on commercial-ready applications of timber technology,” he said, “with a focus on materials, design, prefabrication and building techniques.”  

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The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences has released its Agricultural Commodities Report for the June quarter of 2025, providing updated estimates and forecasts for key sectors, including the forestry industry, for the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26. Source: Timberbiz The report presents an updated estimation for the total value of agricultural commodities, which includes farm outputs (crops and livestock), fisheries, and forestry products. For FY2024–25, the total value was estimated at $99.7 billion, representing a 6% increase from the previous estimate of $94.3 billion released in December 2024. Despite this upward revision, the total value is forecast to decline slightly in FY2025–26 to $97.5 billion, a 2% decrease, largely driven by expected declines in the export values of livestock, livestock products, and crops (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Total agricultural values in billion AUD Upward Trend of Forestry Product Value Focusing on the forestry sector, the report shows a positive trend. The total value of forestry products, which includes both softwood and hardwood, is now estimated at $2.5 billion for FY2024–25, marking an 8% increase from the previous forecast in December 2024. Looking ahead, the value is projected to rise further to $2.7 billion in FY 2025–26, reflecting a 9% year-on-year increase. If realised, this would bring the total forestry value close to the sector’s peak of $2.8 billion in FY2018–19, the highest annual value recorded over the decade between 2010 and 2020 (see Figure 2). These revised figures highlight the continued importance and resilience of the forestry industry within the broader agricultural sector, particularly in the face of changing economic conditions and current dynamics in the global trade environment. Figure 2: Total forestry values in billion AUD   Link to the report: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/june-2025  

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