Latest news with #Cauldron
ABC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
The regional Australian city of Orange is hoping to become the next Silicon Valley
A regional Australian city, famous for its food and wine, is now hoping to be the world's next Silicon Valley. Orange, in central west New South Wales, is positioning itself as an innovation and agricultural technology (ag-tech) hub, with a growing smorgasbord of entrepreneurs choosing to base themselves in the district. "The running joke at the moment is that Orange is the next Palo Alto or Silicon Valley," Hamish Munro, founder of digital start-up Pairtree, told 7.30. Mr Munro is a former farmer who launched Pairtree — a digital platform that aggregates data — in 2018. He says Orange's proximity to Sydney and the presence of the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Charles Sturt University and University of Sydney Rural Medical School make the district an attractive location for companies like his. It's also close to a variety of agricultural commodities such as horticulture and viticulture which benefit from the cooler climate and rich, volcanic soils from the nearby dormant volcano, Mount Canobolas. The surrounding area is flatter and warmer, meaning it can sustain broadacre cropping as well as sheep and cattle production. One of the biggest jewels in the city's crown is bio-manufacturer Cauldron. The company's global ambition is to tackle food insecurity. "The reason we exist is we're starting to understand that there's scarcity in supply chains," Cauldron CEO Michele Stansfield said. "We're seeing this insecurity around the world in food supply chains, fuel supply chains, chemical supply chains. "All the very large companies are looking at ways to shore up supply chains." Cauldron uses fermentation to create microbes that form the foundation of products like laboratory-made milk and chicken. "The molecules being created from this process are 'nature identical' to what has been created, be it by the cow or the chicken," Ms Stansfield said. "We are absolutely looking to supplement or stretch supply chains, so the food ingredients we use would be used to create 4 billion pieces of cheese instead of 3 billion pieces of cheese. Cauldron has secured contracts with the United States' Department of Defense and Queensland government to build bio labs, but Ms Stansfield says there are no plans to leave Orange. "That's where we screen the clients, we develop the technology, but this is a global problem … and we will locate our factories where it makes economic sense." Cauldron's start-up stablemates include Loam Bio, which grows fungi to help capture more carbon in soil, and Green Timber Technology, which has installed robots in part of Orange's old Electrolux fridge factory to build timber frames for homes. Craig Murphy coordinates regular networking meetings for local entrepreneurs called Innovate Orange, and says the city's smaller start-ups are capitalising on the foundations created by Cauldron and Loam Bio. "We've all tried to kind of hack and build things in our garages and stuff like that, but it's also to bring commercial folks along as well," Mr Murphy told 7.30. "I think if you're looking for a city or a location maybe to bring your ag-tech start up, then you've got to look at what they're doing and go, 'well, that's where I probably should be going.'" Despite the efforts of Innovate Orange, there are concerns a more coordinated approach is needed to allow the city's innovation and ag-tech sector to realise its potential. it is something Ms Stansfield is conscious of and she wants to get the next generation involved. "I'd love for there to be some sort of formal structure that includes the university students a bit more and that, I think, would set us apart," Ms Stansfield said. The federal government wants Australia's agricultural industry to be worth $100 billion by 2030 and considers ag-tech to be key in reaching this goal. Commonwealth grants are available but they are highly competitive and many start-ups are self-funded. "We've got hundreds of thousands of dollars invested out of our personal savings, so you know [the] stakes are really high," startup owner Rony Stephen said. Mr Stephen was living in Sydney's Bondi when he holidayed at a farm stay at Mandurama in the NSW central west in 2021. His background in technology and fascination with farm life inspired him to create a range of gadgets. He worked with farm-stay owner Grant Molloy to design sensors to monitor water levels on troughs and tanks, and GPS ear tags which allow farmers to track their livestock on an app. Mr Stephen eventually moved to Orange to establish his company, Sense My Farm. Mr Stephen though has had to give himself a deadline of the "next year or so" for it to succeed. "Right now we're fully boot-strapped, so there's a limit to how much we can personally invest," he said. Mr Munro hopes companies like Mr Stephen's and Mr Malloy's get additional support to ensure they survive. "Australia is a net exporter of agriculture projects, mining, primary produce, and the real opportunity is really exporting tech," Mr Munro said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Special Olympics state basketball tournament celebrates 40th year
Mar. 30—MITCHELL — For the 40th year, athletes from across South Dakota gathered in Mitchell for the Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament, an event that brought together more than 1,000 players, coaches and Unified partners for a weekend of competition. The tournament was held March 29-30 at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell Middle School and Mitchell High School. It opened with a ceremony at the Corn Palace Saturday morning, where delegations from across the state were introduced during the Parade of Athletes. The ceremony also included the lighting of the Cauldron, a welcome from Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson and the presentation of the 2024 Coach of the Year and Athlete of the Year awards. Advertisement "This tournament is about more than just basketball," said Jill Kvanli, marketing manager for Special Olympics South Dakota. "It's about teamwork, sportsmanship and giving these athletes an opportunity to shine." The 2025 tournament included more than 760 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners — individuals without intellectual disabilities who compete alongside Special Olympics athletes — along with more than 260 coaches. Teams competed in various divisions, including 5-on-5 games, 3-on-3 matchups, cheerleading and individual basketball skills contests, which tested athletes in dribbling, shooting and passing. Special Olympics is open to individuals ages 8 and older with intellectual disabilities. The organization provides year-round athletic training and competition to promote physical fitness and community engagement for participants. Mitchell hosted the state basketball tournament for the second consecutive year after the 2024 event was shortened due to weather. The city has also hosted Special Olympics South Dakota's Fall Classic, featuring softball and bocce tournaments. Next year's basketball tournament will be held in Sioux Falls. Advertisement Two awards were presented during the event. The Ron Stewart Award, which recognizes coaches who have demonstrated dedication to Special Olympics athletes, was given to Karla Miles of the Pierre Wildcats. "Everyone who spends time at Special Olympics events knows Karla," said Master of Ceremonies Jody Grubb. "She's the one always dressed in a goofy outfit and smiling — always smiling. She's the coach who makes everything more fun for everyone." The Spirit of a Champion Award went to Colton Miles, also of the Pierre Wildcats, for his leadership and involvement in Special Olympics activities. "Colton is an amazing leader and mentor to younger athletes," Grubb said. "He assists with practices and leads activities he doesn't enjoy himself just to help his teammates. He works hard to be the best athlete he can be, and everything he does is with a smile on his face and joy in his heart." Advertisement As part of the opening ceremony, Mitchell athlete Aaron Krouse carried in the Flame of Hope, a long-standing Special Olympics tradition. This year's tournament had more athletes, teams and coaches than any previous year, according to Kvanli. Teams from Aberdeen, Brandon, Brookings, Hayti, Huron, Milbank, Parkston, Pierre, Rapid City, Redfield, Sioux Falls, Sisseton, Spearfish, Vermillion, Watertown and Yankton competed in the event. Among the champions crowned were the Sioux Falls Lancers in the Senior Unified Class 2 UM7 division, NESC Senior #1 from Hayti in the Schooler/Senior Unified Class 2 UM2 division, Sioux Falls Roosevelt White in the Schooler Unified Class 2 UM4 division, and Roosevelt Cardinal in the Schooler Unified Class 2 UM3 division. In the Junior Unified Class 2 UM1 division, NESC Junior #1 emerged as the victor. Mitchell Tigers team played in the playoffs against Sioux Falls Fireworks Whistlers in its division, Traditional M10, representing the host city.
Associated Press
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Sloppy Marseille loses at Reims and opens the door for PSG to clinch Ligue 1 title
Sloppy Marseille lost at struggling Reims 3-1 and opened the door for Paris Saint-Germain to possibly clinch a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday. A victory at Saint-Etienne would guarantee PSG the title only also if Monaco and Nice draw in Saturday's late game. Second-placed Marseille dominated before falling behind in the 29th minute. Japan forward Keito Nakamura wrong-footed defender Leonardo Balerdi inside the penalty area and curled the ball in for his ninth league goal. Careless play led to the second goal as Reims broke from midfield and Nakamura shrugged off Valentin Rongier before setting up Mamadou Diakhon for a left-foot finish. Valentin Atangana added the third and Rongier pulled one back for inconsistent Marseille, which slipped to its fourth defeat in five games. Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot was scathing about the attitude of some of his teammates. 'It's just not good enough. I get the impression of watching guys who don't want to play in the Champions League next season,' Rabiot told broadcaster beIN SPORTS. 'If some players don't want to, then they should say so before the game and just not play.' It was Reims' first league win since November. Ultras protest government crackdown Several thousand Saint-Etienne fans took to the streets before their game in a protest march against French interior minister Bruno Retailleau's plan to dissolve the club's two main ultras groups, the Magic Fans and the Green Angels. Those at the front carried a giant green banner in the club's colors, which read 'Le Chaudron Ne Se Dissout Pas' (The Cauldron Does Not Dissolve). The Cauldron is the nickname given to Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffroy-Guichard because of its intense atmosphere. Club president Ivan Gazidis joined the fans and made a speech. 'I am very happy to see our city united' he said. 'It's a wonderful response to this unfair process that will resolve nothing.' Other groups of ultras are also under threat of being disbanded. The French interior ministry said there has been soccer-related violence at 64 matches this season, leading to 627 arrests. ___
