Program
The Hort Connections 2025 Program is being finalised.
We are currently working on the Hort Connections 2025 program. We are excited to bring you what should be the largest and most diverse group of speakers and events to-date. Please check back in early 2025.
Farm and Retail Tours
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
Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar 2025
10:00 - 10:05:
Introduction to Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar 2025: Giaan Rooney
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 & Anthony Staatz - Koala Farms
10:32 - 10:52:
Session 2: VegNET - Your Levies Delivering Impact Panel: Zarmeen Hassan - AUSVEG, Cherry Emerick - VegNET & Richelle Kelly - VegNET RDO (Far North Queensland)
10:55 – 11:15:
Session 3: Veg Mech (VG23003) Automated Seeding & Weeding of Brassicas: Does It Work? Panel: Ian Layden - DPI (QLD) & James Terry - Cloudfarming (TAS)
11:17 – 11:37:
Session 4: Plus One Serve: Justine Coates - Plus One Serve
11:40 – 11:55:
Session 5: Digital Remote Monitoring Project: Liam Southam-Rogers - Applied Horticultural Research
12:00 – 12:30:
Lunch
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.
12:42 – 12:57:
Session 6: An Integrated Disease Management Program for the Australian Potato Industry: Professor Calum Wilson - University of Tasmania
12:59 – 13:14:
Session 7: Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP): Shakira Johnson - AUSVEG
13:16 – 13:31:
Session 8: An integrated disease management program for the Australian Potato Industry: Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh - Western Sydney University
13:33 – 13:48:
Session 9: Targeted Pest Monitoring – Passive Traps in Potato Crops: Dr Nigel Crump - AuSPICA
13:50 – 14:05:
Session 10: Potato Pathology Research Projects: Professor Calum Wilson - University of Tasmania
14:07 – 14:22:
Session 11: Tech Tools for Monitoring and Yield Mapping: Abraham Montano - Elders
Trade Show Opening Ceremony
Perfection Fresh Breakfast
07:30 - 07:50:
Delegates seated & food service
07:50 - 08:50:
Keynote Speaker: Life Beyond Fear:
Mark Mathews - Big Wave Surfer & Keynote Speaker, Next Wave
Potato Cyst Nematode: Review of Management & Regulations
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.
Trade Show Speaker Sessions
Blue Stream
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
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
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
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
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
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
13:30 - 14:00:
Session 7: AI Panel
Panellists:
•Fiona Wilhelm - Director- AU Enablement Hub, KPMG Australia
•Josh Smith - Lead Consultant, Caitlyn
•Steve Norton - Portfolio Manager, Croplands
•Matthew Gratton - ANZ Lead - Trees, Nuts, Vines & Vegetables, Nufarm
14:10 - 14:30:
Session 8: Building Resilient Farm Systems for Unpredictable Future: Ram Kishore Savana - Farmers Time Freedom Coach, Enable Ag
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
15:40 - 16:10:
Session 10: Regenerative Farming Panel
Panellists:
•Carl Larson - Associate, RMCG
16:15 - 16:35:
Session 11: Integrating Technologies to Achieve Sustainability and Profit: “Neo” Stimulants and Microbials: Pascual Bauset - Marketing Manager, Servalesa
16:40 - 17:00:
Session 12: Leveraging Global Connections for Horticultural Growth: Su McCluskey - Special Representative, Australian Agriculture
Trade Show Speaker Sessions
Red Stream
09:05 - 09:20:
Session 1: Visual Inductions in Australian Horticulture: Mark Pullin - General Manager, VEG Education
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
09:50 - 10:10:
Session 3: Synergizing Hygienic Design & Operational Excellence for Advancing Food Safety: Lina Ashmore - Food Safety Specialist, Intralox
11:00 - 11:30:
Session 4: TBC: Neil Rechlin - Partner, NextGen Group
11:40 - 12:00:
Session 5: Horticulture's New Protected Cropping Program: Growing Horticulture Through Protected Cropping: Dr Gordon Rogers - CEO, Applied Horticultural Research
12:10 - 12:30:
Session 6: Reposition your Agribusiness Asset-Base to Unlock Value and Maximise Returns: Dr Djin Gie Liem – Associate Professor, Deakin University
13:30 - 14:00:
Session 7: Regulating Agricultural Chemicals to Support Australia’s Horticultural Industries: Scott Hansen - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
14:10 - 14:30:
Session 8: Packaging without Packaging - How Digital Technology is Transforming Packaging: Michael Dosser - Group General Manager, Results Group
15:10 - 15:30:
Session 9: How The Use of AI and Machine Learning Can Help Farmers In Realtime to Better What They Do: Jane Muller – Safe Trade Co-Lead, CSIRO
15:40 - 16:10:
Session 10: Global Fresh Produce Industry Developments: Implications for Australian Horticulture: Dr David Hughes – Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing, Imperial College London
16:15 - 16:35:
Session 11: Beyond the Burden - Reclaiming Value of Good Agricultural Practice in a Holistic Food Safety System: Jane Siebum – Chief Executive Officer, Freshcare
16:40 - 17:00:
Session 12: Who's Interested In Your Carbon Number?: Noel Ainsworth – Principal Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland
Plaza Speaker Sessions
09:05 - 09:20:
Session 1: Beneficial Inoculants Which Suit All Crops, Not Just Legumes!: Mark Kirstein - Agricultural Consultant, Omnia
09:25 - 09:45:
Session 2: Hot Topics In Vegetables - Unlocking the Key Drivers Of Business Success: Jade King - Australian Native Fingerlime Alliance
09:50 - 10:10:
Session 3: Managing Internal Fruit Rot of Capsicums: Dr Naomi Diplock - Research Scientist, Applied Horticultural Research
10:15 - 10:30:
Session 4: Trends in Stemphylium of Onion and Paths for Future Multidiciplined Sustainable Management: Shane Fitzgerald - Agronomist, Metagen
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
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
11:30 - 11:50:
Session 7: Demystifying Ethical Sourcing and Social Compliance for Australian Horticulture: Sachin Ayachit - National Program Manager, Fair Farms
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
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
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
14:20 - 14:35:
Session 11: Scheduling – Why Bother? The Commercial Value of Managing Irrigation Well: Ivor Gaylard – COO & Co-Founding Director, SWAN Systems
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
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
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
16:15 - 16:35:
Session 15: Improving Horticulture Pollination - From On-Farm Practices to a New National Strategy: Tracie Armstrong - Program Manager of the Australian Pollination Strategy, Wheen Bee Foundation
Hort Connections Activation Lounge Partnered by Woolworths
10:15 - 11:15:
Activation Cooking Session 1: Simon Toohey - Television Host, Freshly Picked
14:00 - 15:00:
Activation Cooking Session 2: Jusine Schofield - Television Host, Everyday Gourmet
Corteva Young Grower Event
Lunch
Women in Horticulture Speaker Sessions
Afternoon Tea
Trade Show Happy Hour
Trade Show Open
Plenary Sessions
Sponsored by
08:50 - 09:00:
Welcome Address:Julie Bird - Chair of the Board, Hort Innovation
09:00 - 09:30:
Session 1: TBC: Tom McCue - R&D Manager – Production, Hort Innovation
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
10:00 - 10:10:
Address The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
10:10 - 10:35:
Session 3: State of the Industry: Belinda Wilson - Managing Director, IFPA ANZ
10:55 - 11:55:
Session 4: TBC: The Hon Julie Bishop - Former Minister for Foreign Affairs
11:55 - 12:45:
Session 5: Attenborough’s Secrets: Moments That Change Our Lives: Dr Chadden Hunter - Founder & Director, Chadden Hunter Films
Lunch
Trade Show Speaker Sessions
Blue Stream
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
14:10 - 14:30:
Session 2: Next Generation Barcodes - Success for Consumer Engagement, Export, Certification and Anti-Counterfeit: Caroline Barrett - Director - Primary Industries, GS1
14:40 - 15:00:
Session 3: Ensuring Quality, Cost Efficiency, and Supply Chain Optimisation: Jigarkumar Patel - The King Fresh Market Group of Companies
Trade Show Speaker Sessions
Red Stream
13:30 - 13:50:
Session 1: Navigating the New Normal and Redefining Value: Neil Moody - General Manager - ANZ Region, Focus Insights
14:00 - 14:30:
Session 2: Harnessing the Power of AI in Horticulture: Elad Mardix - CEO & Co-Founder, Clarifresh and Siddharth Jadhav - Founder and CEO, Polybee
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
