Azaneo is an Australian company working to revolutionise how farmers control weeds by creating fast, efficient, herbicide‑free electric weeding solutions.
As an emerging ag-tech company, they saw an opportunity to partner with the NSW Skills for Net Zero initiative to support their research by offering plant science intern Hunter Diment a hands-on introduction to sustainable agriculture.
This NSW Government-funded initiative is helping build a net zero workforce by engaging, matching and connecting talented tertiary students with paid internship opportunities at workplaces that are helping NSW to achieve net zero.
Hunter and his internship manager, Dr. Paola Rallo share their experience working together to help create more sustainable, chemical‑free agriculture.
Sowing the seeds: how this collaboration came about
While searching for work experience opportunities towards the end of his studies, Hunter discovered the Sustainable Agriculture and Plant Science Internship placement through the CSIRO website.
“I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to gain paid, discipline-specific experience in plant science; internships in this field are hard to come by, so this role stood out.”
For Azaneo, they heard about the opportunity to host an intern at an innovation event, and realised that the initiative’s goals for decarbonisation aligned closely with their mission to transition away from traditional herbicides.
“We were inspired to find a motivated student who could meaningfully support field trials and contribute to research during a critical development phase,” said Dr. Paola, Lead Plant Biologist and Field Trial Manager.
Harvesting new skills for a net zero future
After onboarding, Hunter was immediately involved in field activities, collecting data, photographing plots, and gaining hands-on experience in varying conditions.
“I got a lot more hands-on experience than I thought I would. I had high exposure to fieldwork, and the team involved me in all parts of the research process, including data collection and detailed data analysis,” said Hunter.
“I was given the opportunity to contribute to written work, brainstorming plans, experiments, and discussing objectives and reasoning behind different approaches,” he added.
Paola was impressed by the skills Hunter developed and shared how the quality of his work was a huge asset for the organisation.
“The internship helped Hunter develop skills far beyond what he expected. He gained valuable experience in data analysis, project planning and time management skills, applicable across agricultural science and sustainability sectors.
“The quality and quantity of Hunter’s work was amazing; his accuracy with large datasets strengthened our confidence in trial results and improved the quality of research outputs,” shared Paola.
Growing a greener future
The placement has solidified Hunter’s desire to work in the net zero space, and strengthened his belief that transitioning to renewable, sustainable agricultural practices is essential.
“This opportunity reinforced my interest and passion in the field. It was invaluable getting the experience, upskilling, and having the opportunity to work both in field and in the office and making valuable contributions.
For Paola, the initiative cut admin while providing a skilled intern to progress their project.
“Hunter’s work supported a key aim of improving weed kill efficiency at higher operating speeds. His plant physiology background enriched the team’s ability to identify field species and tailor electrical dosing to different weed types, and contributed directly to Azaneo’s decarbonisation outcomes,” said Paola.
Together, Hunter and Azaneo demonstrated how internships can empower students, strengthen agricultural innovation and accelerate progress toward sustainable, low-emission agriculture.
NSW Skills for Net Zero is proudly funded by the NSW Government and delivered by CSIRO.
NSW Skills for Net Zero provides you with practical, paid experience and can help you find your net zero job of the future. From engineers and scientists to accountants and policy advisors, the path to net zero spans all sectors. Use your qualification to join the growing workforce helping NSW to reach net zero.
Tick of approval. What our participants are saying
From an intern perspective Hunter recommends NSW Skills for Net Zero to other students as a way to get paid experience and foster connections.
“I couldn’t recommend this initiative more. I’m now in a position where I am concluding my studies and starting my job hunt. Thanks to this internship, I have hands-on, paid experience in my field, and referees for my job applications.”
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