Program

BUS TOURS

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Farm Tours, and Retail Tour are not included within the All-Access Pass and is to be booked separately.

Produce Retail Tour: 8:00 – 12:30
Brisbane Markets to Koala Farm Tour: 6:15 - 13:30
Mulgowie to Moira Farm Tour: 7:00 - 14:00
Barden to QDPI Gatton Research Facility & Smart Farm Tour: 7:15 - 14:00
Onions Tour: 7:00 - 14:00

MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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10:00 - 10:05:
Introduction to Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar 2025: Giaan Rooney

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10:05 - 10:30:
Session 1: Trans-Tasman Perspectives on Future Proofing Farms in Australia & New Zealand Panel: Carl Larsen - RMCG/SWICP, John Murphy - Vegetables NZ, Michael Hicklin - LeaderBrand Produce, NZ, Ed Windley - Kengoon Farming & Kim Ngov - The Australian Cambodian Growers Association of NSW

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10:32 - 10:52:
Session 2: VegNET - Your Levies Delivering Impact Panel: Zarmeen Hassan - AUSVEG, Cherry Emerick - VegNET, Garry Spotswood - Mt Alma Fresh Organics & Richelle Kelly - VegNET RDO (Far North Queensland)

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10:55 – 11:15:
Session 3: Veg Mech (VG23003) Automated Seeding & Weeding of Brassicas: Does It Work? Panel: Ian Layden - DPI (QLD), Troy Qualischefski - Qualipac ProduceJames Terry - Cloudfarming (TAS) & James Terry - Cloudfarming (TAS)

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11:17 – 11:37:
Session 4: Plus One Serve: Justine Coates - Plus One Serve

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11:40 – 11:55:
Session 5: Digital Remote Monitoring Project: Liam Southam-Rogers - Applied Horticultural Research

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12:00 – 12:30:
Lunch

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12:30 – 12:40:
Introduction to Potato R&D Forum: Peter O’Brien

The Potato R&D Forum is a collaboration between AUSVEG, AHR, and PotatoLink.

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12:42 – 12:57:
Session 6: An Integrated Disease Management Program for the Australian Potato Industry: Professor Calum Wilson - University of Tasmania

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12:59 – 13:14:
Session 7: Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP): Shakira Johnson - AUSVEG

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13:16 – 13:31:
Session 8: An integrated disease management program for the Australian Potato Industry: Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh - Western Sydney University

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13:33 – 13:48:
Session 9: Targeted Pest Monitoring – Passive Traps in Potato Crops: Dr Nigel Crump - AuSPICA

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13:50 – 14:05:
Session 10: Potato Pathology Research Projects: Professor Calum Wilson - University of Tasmania

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14:07 – 14:22:
Session 11: Tech Tools for Monitoring and Yield Mapping: Abraham Montano - Elders

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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07:30 - 07:50:
Delegates seated & food service

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07:50 - 08:50:
Keynote Speaker: Life Beyond Fear: Mark Mathews - Big Wave Surfer & Keynote Speaker, Next Wave

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WORKSHOP

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It has been twelve years since there have been any major updates to the regulation of PCN in Australia. Agriculture Victoria has taken the lead on a national review of PCN management.

As the industry comes together for Hort Connections, the premier horticulture conference and trade show in Australia and New Zealand, AUSVEG, in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria, invites stakeholders from the potato, root vegetable and nursery supply chain to discuss the review. Your input is crucial to ensure that the changes benefit everyone.

Please click here to register, you will receive pre-reading and an agenda for the event.

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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09:05 - 09:20:
Session 1: The Future of Market Price Transparency is Here - Discover FreshData: Shane Schnitzler - Chair, Fresh Markets Australia & Gail Woods – Special Projects & Advisor, Fresh Markets Australia

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09:25 - 09:45:
Session 2: Hot Topics In Vegetables - Unlocking the Key Drivers Of Business Success: Donna Lucas - Principal, RMCG, Lauren Jones - Consultant, RMCG and Thea Walker - Horticulture Business Consultant, Planfarm

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09:50 - 10:10:
Session 3: Challenges and Opportunities in European Produce Markets; Our Efforts to Marry Profits and Growth: Julius Joel - Group Product Director | Celery, G's

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11:00 - 11:30:
Session 4: Reposition your Agribusiness Asset-Base to Unlock Value and Maximise Returns
Panellists:
•Rawdon Briggs - Head of Agribusiness | Agribusiness Transactions, Colliers Australia
•James Nilsson - National Director | Rural & Agribusiness, Colliers New Zealand
•Jesse Manuel - National Director | Agribusiness Transactions, Colliers Australia
•Michael Noon - Executive Director, Next Rural Queensland

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11:40 - 12:00:
Session 5: How to Get Your Story on the News: Insider Secrets for Media Success: Jemma O'Hanlon - Chief Executive Officer & Director, Foodwatch

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12:10 - 12:30:
Session 6: How The Use of AI and Machine Learning Can Help Farmers In Realtime to Better at What They Do: Charles Simons - Chief Sales Officer, BioScout

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13:30 - 14:00:
Session 7: AI Panel
Panellists:
•Fiona Wilhelm - Director- AU Enablement Hub, KPMG Australia
•Josh Smith - Lead Consultant, Caitlyn

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14:10 - 14:30:
Session 8: Building Resilient Farm Systems for Unpredictable Future: Ram Kishore Savana - Farmers Time Freedom Coach, Enable Ag

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15:10 - 15:30:
Session 9: Plus One Serve of Veg by 2030 - Driving Consumer Demand to Grow a Healthier and More Prosperous Australia: Justine Coates - Director, Plus One Serve

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15:40 - 16:10:
Session 10: Regenerative Horticulture – Fad or Fundamental? : Carl Larson - Associate, RMCG

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16:15 - 16:35:
Session 11: Integrating Technologies to Achieve Sustainability and Profit: “Neo” Stimulants and Microbials: Pascual Bauset - Marketing Manager, Servalesa

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16:40 - 17:00:
Session 12: Leveraging Global Connections for Horticultural Growth: Su McCluskey - Special Representative, Australian Agriculture

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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09:05 - 09:20:
Session 1: Visual Inductions in Australian Horticulture: Mark Pullin - General Manager, VEG Education

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09:25 - 09:45:
Session 2: Strategic Immigration Solutions - Tackling Labor Shortages in Australia's Agricultural Sector: Samantha Norman - Head of Migration | East Coast, Mapien

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09:50 - 10:10:
Session 3: Synergizing Hygienic Design & Operational Excellence for Advancing Food Safety: Lina Ashmore - Food Safety Specialist, Intralox

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10:30 - 10:50:
Session 4: Funding Innovation and Automation in Horticulture: Alison Blanshard - State Business Banking Executive (QLD), NAB

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11:00 - 11:30:
Session 5: How the Grocery Code Can Help in Your Price and Volume Discussions with Retailers: Neil Rechlin - Partner, NextGen Group

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11:40 - 12:00:
Session 6: Horticulture's New Protected Cropping Program: Growing Horticulture Through Protected Cropping: Dr Gordon Rogers - CEO, Applied Horticultural Research

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12:10 - 12:30:
Session 7: Reposition your Agribusiness Asset-Base to Unlock Value and Maximise Returns: Dr Djin Gie Liem – Associate Professor, Deakin University

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13:30 - 14:00:
Session 8: Regulating Agricultural Chemicals to Support Australia’s Horticultural Industries: Scott Hansen - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

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14:10 - 14:30:
Session 9: Packaging without Packaging - How Digital Technology is Transforming Packaging: Michael Dosser - Group General Manager, Results Group

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15:10 - 15:30:
Session 10: Pathways For Safe Trade - Improving Access to Markets Through Science and Collaboration: Jane Muller – Safe Trade Co-Lead, CSIRO

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15:40 - 16:10:
Session 11: Global Fresh Produce Industry Developments: Implications for Australian Horticulture: Dr David Hughes – Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing, Imperial College London

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16:15 - 16:35:
Session 12: Beyond the Burden - Reclaiming Value of Good Agricultural Practice in a Holistic Food Safety System: Jane Siebum – Chief Executive Officer, Freshcare

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16:40 - 17:00:
Session 13: Who's Interested In Your Carbon Number?: Noel Ainsworth – Principal Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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09:05 - 09:20:
Session 1: Beneficial Inoculants Which Suit All Crops, Not Just Legumes!: Mark Kirstein - Agricultural Consultant, Omnia

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09:25 - 09:45:
Session 2: Improving Horticulture Pollination - From On-Farm Practices to a New National Strategy: Tracie Armstrong - Program Manager of the Australian Pollination Strategy, Wheen Bee Foundation

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09:50 - 10:10:
Session 3: Managing Internal Fruit Rot of Capsicums: Dr Naomi Diplock - Research Scientist, Applied Horticultural Research

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10:15 - 10:30:
Session 4: Trends in Stemphylium of Onion and Paths for Future Multidiciplined Sustainable Management: Shane Fitzgerald - Agronomist, Metagen

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10:40 - 10:55:
Session 5: How to Double Mango Production Without Expanding Your Farm: Dr Ryan Orr – Senior Horticulturist, Queensland Department of Primary Industries

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11:05 - 11:20:
Session 6: Stronger Together - Cooperative Surveillance for Biosecurity, Market Access, and Industry Resilience: Dr John Alawneh – Lead Epidemiologist & Principal Scientist, Queensland Department of Primary Industries

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11:30 - 11:50:
Session 7: Demystifying Ethical Sourcing and Social Compliance for Australian Horticulture: Sachin Ayachit - National Program Manager, Fair Farms

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12:00 - 12:20:
Session 8: Applied Research and Technologies Ltd Trends and Opportunities for Big Improvements in Tree Crop Spray Application Practices and Outcomes: Dr David Manktelow - Business Owner, Applied Research and Technologies Ltd

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13:30 - 13:45:
Session 9: Diversifying Pollination: A Path to Strengthening Cucurbit Production in Australia: Dr Lena Alice Schmidt - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of New England

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13:55 - 14:10:
Session 10: Ecorobotix "ARA" - The Ultra-High-Precison Sprayer That is Revolutioning Agriculture worldwide: Jose Marchetti - Director of Business Development, Ecorobotix

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14:20 - 14:35:
Session 11: Scheduling – Why Bother? The Commercial Value of Managing Irrigation Well: Ivor Gaylard – COO & Co-Founding Director, SWAN Systems

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15:00 - 15:15:
Session 12: The SVS Tool – Facilitating Decision Making for Sustainable N Management in Vegetable Crops: Dr Bruce Searle - Crop Physiologist, Plant & Food Research

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15:25 - 15:40:
Session 13: Why, Against Apathy and Disinterest, Build a $30M+ F&V Processing Facility in Queensland?: Colin Dorber - Deputy Chairman, CEO and Managing Director, The Lockyer Valley Fruit & Vegetable Processing Co

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15:50 - 16:05:
Session 14: Reducing Transplant Shock in Amenity Horticulture & Vegetable Seedlings Through Polymer Treatments: Dr Shane Phillips - Research and Development Lead, BioCentral Laboratories

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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10:15 - 11:15:
Activation Cooking Session 1: Simon Toohey - Television Host, Freshly Picked

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14:00 - 15:00:
Activation Cooking Session 2: Jusine Schofield - Television Host, Everyday Gourmet

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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13:30 - 14:30:
Women in Horticulture: Catriona Rowntree - Host, Getaway

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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08:30 - 08:50:
Light Breakfast Service

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08:50 - 09:00:
Welcome Address: Julie Bird - Chair of the Board, Hort Innovation

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09:00 - 09:30:
Session 1: The Australian Vegetable Industry’s Journey Towards Automation and Mechanisation: Tom McCue - R&D Manager – Production, Hort Innovation

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09:30 - 10:00:
Session 2: Learning How Regenerative Agriculture Can Work in Horticulture; Growing the Same Yields with Lower Inputs: Julius Joel - Group Product Director | Celery, G's

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10:00 - 10:10:
Address: Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm - Assistant Minister for Agriculture

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10:10 - 10:35:
Session 3: State of the Industry: Belinda Wilson - Managing Director, IFPA ANZ

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10:55 - 11:55:
Session 4: TBC: The Hon Julie Bishop - Former Minister for Foreign Affairs

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11:55 - 12:45:
Session 5: Attenborough’s Secrets: Moments That Change Our Lives: Dr Chadden Hunter - Founder & Director, Chadden Hunter Films

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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13:30 - 13:50:
Session 1: Keeping up With the Latest Category Insights on Fruit, Vegetables and Nuts Using Hort IQ: Wendy Hubbard - Consumer Insights Manager, Hort Innovation and Shansel Sami - Director, Nielsen IQ

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14:10 - 14:30:
Session 2: Next Generation Barcodes - Success for Consumer Engagement, Export, Certification and Anti-Counterfeit: Caroline Barrett - Director - Primary Industries, GS1

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MULTIPLE SESSIONS

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13:30 - 13:50:
Session 1: Navigating the New Normal and Redefining Value: Neil Moody - General Manager - ANZ Region, Focus Insights

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14:00 - 14:30:
Session 2: Harnessing the Power of AI in Horticulture: Elad Mardix - CEO & Co-Founder, Clarifresh, Josh Cross - Business Development Manager, Jane’s Weather and Siddharth Jadhav - Founder and CEO, Polybee

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14:40 - 15:00:
Session 3: Seeka Marketer of the Year Award, produced by IFPA and Produce Plus: Finalist Showcase
Presented by:
•Tim Withers - Marketing and Membership Manager, IFPA A-NZ
•Liam O’Callaghan - Editor, Produce Plus

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