Horticulture industry leaders, growers and agri-businesses will mark National Agriculture Day today at the annual AUSVEG Hort Business Summit in Melbourne.

Convened by AUSVEG, the peak industry body for Australia’s vegetable, potato and onion growers, the summit will provide an important forum to address the increasingly complex business and operating environment confronting horticulture businesses across the country.

The event at the Science Gallery will feature sessions and speakers canvassing key challenges, issues and themes, including the economics of farming, addressing the compliance burden, adoption of AgTech solutions, and the campaign to increase vegetable consumption in Australia.

Attendees will also gain key insights into the topical area of grower-retailer relations during a session with Woolworths Food and Grocery Code Mediator Trish Henry, and Coles Food and Grocery Code Mediator Jenny Linsten.

The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives the Hon Milton Dick MP will also address the summit on the power of effective advocacy.

AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote said, “As we mark National Agriculture Day, today’s summit is an important opportunity for growers, horticulture industry businesses and stakeholders to come together to consider and address some of the key issues, challenges, and also opportunities for the sector.

“Across the country, vegetable growers are continuing to tell AUSVEG through our regular industry sentiment surveys that business conditions are currently some of the toughest they have ever experienced, with two in five actively considering leaving the sector in the next year.

“To address the current challenges, it is important to hear from the experts, to better understand the key issues, and to consider solutions and approaches that support the long-term viability of Australia’s vegetable, and wider horticulture industry.

“Today’s event builds on AUSVEG’s comprehensive program of work aimed at fostering greater productivity, profitability and longer-term sustainability for the growers we represent.

“As we celebrate National Ag Day and the contribution our sector makes to feeding the country, it’s just as important to remember that without a thriving horticulture industry, Australia has no food security.”

AUSVEG thanks event sponsors and supporters MEGT, Muirs, Hort Innovation, Syngenta, and Steritech for their support of the summit.