Cairns Startup Fuses Indigenous Rainmaking Wisdom with Science to Boost Crop Growth

A biotech startup in Cairns is blending ancient Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge science to enhance plant and fungi productivity.

Rainstick, the company behind the innovation, is using electrical fields to treat seeds a method aimed at improving germination and boosting yields. The technique draws inspiration from the Maiawali people of central west Queensland, who traditionally used a “chuggera” or lightning stick to influence thunderstorms.

While Rainstick has been testing its technology on small indoor crops, it has also partnered with Riverine Plains, a farming systems group with over 450 members, to trial the method on broadacre crops like canola.

CEO Pip Grant said poor crop establishment remains a major challenge for Australian farmers. Research from CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation estimates that low germination rates cost the canola industry more than $100 million annually.

Rainstick’s approach could have applications far beyond conventional agriculture, offering new possibilities for sustainable farming and food production.