Key points
- A new CSIRO report analyses the commercial outcomes achieved by businesses that engage with researchers.
- Cairns-based SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) Rainstick is characteristic of regional-based companies that participate in R&D programs, such as CSIRO Kick-Start.
- Rainstick is now taking their business global by working with researchers to refine their technology and validate ideas.
When major storms are incoming, most Australians think about tying down the trampoline or clearing the gutters.
But for Mic Black and Darryl Lyons, when they peek out the window of their regional northern Australia homes, they see scientific gold. That’s because these innovators have developed a way to mimic the power of thunderstorm electricity for agricultural benefit.
Spurred by a passion for sustainable farming and a love of a good weather event, Rainstick was formed by Mic and Darryl in 2022. Their technology harnesses electricity to boost crop yields, increase crop resilience to a changing climate, and drive a bold mission to strengthen both local and international food systems.
Traditional knowledge meets emerging science
Rainstick’s story began in January 2022 with a casual, catch-up call. Mic and Darryl had known each other for many years from various start-up events. Mic was updating Darryl on his investigations into bioelectricity and how electrical environments may alter how plants grow.
Darryl had always considered Mic a "genius inventor" and was immediately intrigued. The concept resonated on a deeper level. Darryl’s mob, the Maiawali People of central west Queensland, are traditionally known as Rainmakers.
“My ancestors used ‘chuggera’, a lightning stick, in ceremony to influence thunderstorms,” Darryl said.
"Maiawali people are in the Australian First Nations grain belt, where native grains thrived. As traditional Rainmakers, we held ceremonies to create electrical activity and influence weather systems. This use was even referenced in early government records including in a mayoral diary from 1914. Colonisation disrupted a lot of that knowledge, but there’s still significant inherited wisdom that can help tackle today’s challenges."
During a literature review they were alerted to a study out of Japan demonstrating that mushrooms exposed to a high voltage grew significantly larger. They spoke to mushroom farmers and anecdotally confirmed that thunderstorms appeared to affect the growth of their mushrooms despite being indoors. Mic transformed his home garage into a hi-tech mushroom growing laboratory and their experiments confirmed this potential.
“If it was an electric field that was penetrating into the controlled growing environment, this could transform food production,” Mic said.
Sparking progress with the power of R&D
“We knew we were on to something and went looking for the right partner to help,” Mic said. Mic and Darryl’s breakthrough caught the attention of CSIRO, and through their participation in the ON program, they were referred to the CSIRO Kick-Start initiative. This facilitated, dollar-matched research program connected them with CSIRO’s agriculture researchers.
“Working with subject matter expert researchers helped us refine our technology and validate our ideas,” Mic said. “The Kick-Start program accelerated our progress.”
“It also helped us to gain enough knowledge to apply this to different markets including specific yeasts. After understanding more, we broadened our efforts to seeds.”
Together, over 12 months, the collaborating team explored how controlled electrical stimulation could enhance certain changes which lead to potential discoveries in crop resilience, increased yields and a reduction in reliance on chemical inputs.
“Our collaboration with CSIRO didn’t just improve our tech, it gave us access to further scientific networks,” Darryl said. “It’s one thing to have an idea and your own trial data but confirming it with reputable scientific validation opened doors for us.”
“Now we have researchers knocking on our door to explore more, not the other way around.”
The Rainstick team now operate a purpose-built 400m2 bioelectric lab currently testing over 100,000 seedlings and are open to working with more growers and scientists.
“We are a bioelectric prospecting company currently focussed on seeds,” said Mic. “Whether it is fungi, bacteria or plants, it’s all electric!”
High voltage outcomes for SMEs
Mic and Darryl’s experience aligns with findings from our latest research report, Commercial Outcomes of SME-Research Collaboration. Conducted with the University of Queensland, the report highlights how research partnerships drive innovation for small businesses.
Key findings include:
- Research collaborations help SMEs accelerate innovation, providing new/improved products, prototypes, and de-risking early-stage R&D
- Regional SMEs have a greater likelihood of positive outcomes than metro-based
- Partnerships support SMEs at every stage, from early R&D to accessing larger competitive grants
- Different programs yield different benefits; facilitated, dollar-matched programs excel in early-stage product development, while competitive grants support advanced activities.
Dr George Feast, Director SME Connect Programs, said, “What’s most exciting about this new data is that it shows SMEs who undertake R&D are experiencing impactful outcomes. We hope these findings will encourage other companies to think about working with the Australian research sector and decide to explore a project of their own; we can help them find the best support and research partner for their ideas.”
The data shows that collaboration with universities and research institutes offer substantial benefits to SMEs, and targeted support can enhance the efficacy and impact of R&D activities.
When talking about the benefits and process of undertaking research via these programs, Darryl said they learned to embrace scientific scepticism and “work with the experts to improve and learn where our blind spots are”.
Charging up for global markets
From humble beginnings in Mic’s home garage, to now operating a 400m2 bioelectric research and production facility, the team has explored more than 20 species and trialled more than 100,000 seedlings, working with Australian nurseries and multi-national seed providers to improve germination, vigour and biomass.
In April 2025, the team began their first of many plot trials with canola, addressing a $200 million per year “establishment issue”. The establishment issue, according to a recent report on reducing risks to canola establishment by GRDC and CSIRO, tells us that “typically, only 50 per cent of germinated seeds will successfully establish, leading to issues including reduced yield, increased weed problems and potentially costly resowing”.
Inspired by their CSIRO Kick-Start experience, Mic and Darryl have since participated in two more programs, expanding their reach internationally.
“The impact of Kick-Start and other early-stage CSIRO programs has been huge for us. Doing a deep science venture is quite challenging, so having superstar support from CSIRO has certainly opened doors,” Mic said. “Now, through the Venture Exchange Program and India Australia RISE Accelerator, we’re excited to go from Cairns to Singapore and India.”
While these global experiences will provide them with new perspectives and new partners, Rainstick felt it reinforced the value of homegrown expertise.
“After our international experiences, we applied for the Regional University Industry Collaboration program.”
“This is a great example of what is possible with home-grown innovation, creating benefits for not just us as founders, but the country, when we work together.”
For Mic and Darryl, storm clouds don’t spell disaster, they signal opportunity. By blending ancient wisdom with emerging science, Rainstick is proving that sometimes, the best ideas strike like lightning.