Potatoes Australia_June July_2017_Web

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Geoff Moar
Chairman
AUSVEG
James Whiteside
CEO
AUSVEG
It was a great pleasure to witness the success of the inaugural
Hort Connections 2017, with approximately 2,500 delegates
travelling to the Adelaide Convention Centre for the
groundbreaking conference held from 15-17 May.
This event was an overwhelming success for AUSVEG as well
as our conference partner, the Produce Marketing Association
Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) and eight industry cohosts:
Fresh Markets Australia, the Central Markets Association
of Australia, Potatoes South Australia, Growcom, Irrigation
Australia, Australian Organic, Onions Australia and Nursery and
Garden Industry Australia.
Hort Connections exceeded all expectations, breaking
delegate and exhibitor records previously set by PMA Fresh
Connections and the National Horticulture Convention. The
industry collaboration demonstrated at Hort Connections was
a testament to the event’s overall success.
As a result of this year’s positive response, AUSVEG and
PMA A-NZ have announced that Hort Connections will be
returning in 2018, this time at the Brisbane Convention Centre
from 18-20 June. I hope that those who attended the event
this year found it to be highly beneficial, both personally and
professionally, and we are looking forward to bringing you an
even more informative and valuable event in 2018.
Hort Connections provided important networking
opportunities for delegates, including members of the
Australian potato industry who were able to come together at
the Potatoes South Australia luncheon and the Potato Industry
Extension Forum held on Monday 15 May.
The luncheon and forum provided an avenue for around 50
members from across the industry to meet, share information
and hear about the latest industry issues and innovations.
Presentations at the workshop included tomato-potato psyllid
management, emerging technologies such as aerial and
satellite crop surveillance, as well as soil health monitoring,
management and improvement. For those who were unable to
attend, a full wrap-up of the event can be found on page 14.
In other positive news, the Australian potato and vegetable
industry is set to benefit from a significant investment in
biosecurity, with Horticulture Innovation Australia securing a
Federal Government grant and co-investor funding to deliver a
$21 million, five-year plant biosecurity project.
This investment will ensure the horticulture industry has
both the technology and expertise to detect, identify and treat
plant pest incursions. It will also assist in the management
of key endemic pests, the importance of which is clearly
demonstrated by the recent incursion of the tomato-potato
psyllid. This investment is vital to protecting the viability of
Australia’s vegetable and potato industries and will contribute
significantly to ensuring our industry remains strong and stable
well into the future.
On behalf of AUSVEG, I would like to take the opportunity
to thank each and every delegate who attended Hort
Connections 2017 as well as our event partners, the Produce
Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ), our
industry co-hosts, exhibitors and speakers for helping to deliver
a truly world-class event for Australian horticulture.
The inaugural amalgamation of two leading industry events
– the National Horticulture Convention and PMA Fresh
Connections – resulted in the largest and most comprehensive
convention in the history of Australian and New Zealand
horticulture and we are excited for Hort Connections to return
from 18-20 June 2018 at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
The highlights of Hort Connections 2017 included
presentations from thought-provoking leaders and an
expansive trade show, which showcased 148 local and
global supply chain organisations. Delegates saw the latest in
technology and innovation, heard from industry experts, met
leading local and global agribusinesses and networked at the
most highly anticipated social events on the industry’s calendar,
including the Gala Dinner.
With over 1,200 people in attendance, the Gala Dinner was
the capstone event of the three-day convention. It not only
gave delegates the opportunity to network and socialise with
friends and colleagues, it also honoured growers and other
members of the Australian horticulture industry for their
outstanding achievements.
This included Anthony Staatz from Queensland, who
received the prestigious Grower of the Year award while
Victoria’s Daniel Adams was presented with the Young Grower
of the Year award. Victorian grower Lisa Brassington was
rewarded for her ongoing contribution to the organic sector
by taking home the coveted Women in Horticulture award.
The importance of taking care of your mental health and its
impact on individuals and communities in regional Australia
was also highlighted at Hort Connections 2017, with a Mental
Health Panel contributing to industry efforts to break the
stigma surrounding mental health and encourage growers to
speak up when they’re feeling down. beyondblue Chairman
and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett led the session, while
panellists included Young Potato People founder and Potatoes
Australia columnist, Stu Jennings. The panel provided an open
forum for attendees to ask questions about mental health and
learn tactics to assist themselves or those close to them, and
received significant positive feedback from attendees.
As farming is often quite isolating, it is imperative to
encourage an open discussion about mental health. I
congratulate growers such as Stu who continue to encourage
conversation around issues such as depression and anxiety
and hope that the panel inspired more members of the potato
industry to follow the same path.
| MESSAGES FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO |
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