In this edition, Simone Cameron pays tribute to her former colleague and ex-NT Farmers’ Chief Executive Officer, Greg Owens. Greg officially announced his retirement in November 2021, and his departure leaves a big hole in the Top End horticulture industry. However, Greg will continue to remain actively involved as a consultant with NT Farmers, ensuring that his wealth of knowledge can be passed on to the next generation.

Greg Owens is a well-respected horticulture industry member. He has immense knowledge of the industry and growing conditions in the Northern Territory, having worked in the Top End for 35 years as an agricultural educator, extension officer, grower, researcher, and industry development officer.

Greg Owens speaks at a NT Farmers’ event.

Greg’s extensive industry knowledge, experience and networks helps growers with their technical, regulatory, development and biosecurity issues. His loyal, reliable, valiant efforts and dedication to the north have been instrumental for the exciting growth the industry has seen.

Greg is a mentor, a role model, an advocate, a stalwart who continually nominates himself to support and assist in whatever capacity is asked of him from R&D through to extension and adoption.

His network spans far and wide and even writing this article, it is hard to capture all what Greg has done and does for the industry. Conversations with Greg are always insightful, thought-provoking and extremely enlightening. You always leave the conversation knowing so much more than when you began the conversation; in hindsight, recording them would have been valuable. How one person can retain so much is beyond admirable.

Northern Australia Food Futures Conference Committee Lead Ian Baker echoed these sentiments.

“Greg always gives good advice and he’s a good sounding board for ideas,” Ian said.

“He has been a good contributor to many projects and is always polite, respectful and well-meaning.”

Greg’s passion for industry is undeniable and he imparts this always effortlessly to others. He has worked tirelessly with growers – particularly our non-English speaking Vietnamese and Cambodian growers – to ensure that any R&D works in practice, often tailoring individual solutions as required.

In addition, Greg has held a position on Hort Innovation’s Vegetable Consumer Alignment Strategic Investment Advisory Panel. In 2016, Greg was recognised for his tireless efforts to protect and maintain Northern Territory’s biosecurity – along with his community spirit and engagement with the Northern Territory growing community – when he took home the DuPont Community Stewardship Award at the 2016 National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner.

The early years

Greg and his young family moved to the Northern Territory in 1984, where he began teaching at Darwin High School as a senior chemistry teacher. Past students – some of whom Greg remains in constant contact with – recall his passion for science, along with his enthusiasm and dedication.

In 1999, Greg took on the role of Horticulture Extension Officer with the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries. For the next nine years, there were a lot of meetings with different gro

Greg (left) helped to conduct Northern Australia
Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) surveys in September
2021.

wer groups, including the establishment of a Vietnamese grower group. It respects Greg’s commitment to them over the years.

“On behalf of the Vietnamese Horticultural Association, I would like to thank Greg for the ongoing support and assistance that he has provided us over the years,” Marrakai grower Chris Pham said.

“He has made a tremendous impact on us through imparting his wealth of knowledge, which in turn has allowed us to grow in the field of horticulture. He will be greatly missed, and we hope he gets the break that he truly deserves.”

Greg was instrumental in the development of a National Extension Policy as a member of National Management Committee, which is the Australian and Pacific Extension Network (APEN).

In 2008, he returned to teaching at a rural regional school – Taminmin College – where he assisted with the management of the school farm and initiated many improvement projects; many of these outcomes are still valuable today.

Greg also joined the NT Agriculture Association as a project officer, where he focused on irrigation and land management practices to help support the growing industry. He juggled both his teaching and support roles for a few years and used his networking opportunities to immerse his students in highly engaging extension activities.

Dedication to NT Farmers

In 2013, Greg left his secondary teaching role to commence a full-time role as Vegetable Grower Extension Officer with the newly named NT Farmers. NT Farmers was a significant merging of the NT Ag Association and NT Horticultural Association.

During his time at NT Farmers, Greg used his natural abilities and experience to tailor his dedication to his work by putting it into practice.

He put a significant amount of effort into fostering awareness on the benefits of using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) along with understanding tropical soils and developing adequate biosecurity plans through numerous extension opportunities.

“Greg’s a farmer’s friend, and an exemplary extension officer with a passionate focus on promoting, delivering and supporting R, D&E and its adoption,” NT Farmers President Simon Smith said.

“One of his great strengths is he knows how to put work into practice, tailoring solutions to individual farmers’ needs as required.”

Greg pictured at work helping growers across the Northern Territory.

The banana freckle outbreak followed by the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus incursion – which affected the melon crops – kept Greg extremely busy and cemented the valuable relationships he has with growers and his ability to serve as a conduit between them and the wider industry.

Through his straight-up conversations with industry, Greg ensured that growers impacted by these incursions were operational as soon as possible with minimal damage. He ultimately became the rock necessary to keep industry moving and developing.

Northern Territory’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Dr Anne Walters, praised Greg’s commitment to biosecurity across the Top End.

“Greg’s knowledge, expertise and skills have made him a fantastic partner for the NT plant biosecurity team over many years. Through Greg, we have been able to forge exceptional outcomes for industry in terms of eradication, trade and market access, and research and development,” Dr Walters said.

“Greg’s commitment to the horticultural industry of the Northern Territory is inspirational. He will be truly missed.”

In 2016, Greg’s title changed to Industry Development Manager (IDM) and he was asked to step into the role as NT Farmers’ CEO the following year.

Greg handed the CEO position over in 2019 and returned to his IDM role. Greg’s ability to be involved in numerous key industry drivers is insurmountable and he is to be credited for this. A highlight was the organisation and leading a group of Top End farmers on a 10-day tour of Punjab, India.

Greg is passionate about helping and supporting our growers obtain the best possible outcomes. The entire NT industry and beyond applauds his commitment to value-adding to the north. Greg has become a Territory legend for the vegetable industry, which was all but non-existent when he first arrived in town. He has fostered, encouraged and supported a handful of equally keen and passionate farmers who believed in him, believed in the north and its potential future.

“Greg has been the strength behind the success of NT Farmers,” Simon said.

“Through his tireless efforts he has ultimately improved the level of confidence in our growers by forging trusting relationships with them, doing so without bias.”

“He has single-handedly been instrumental in the development and implementation of our northern Australia biosecurity regulations and has provided important stability for industry.”

Today this industry is worth over $61 million – this is a remarkable achievement driven through the passion and dedication of industry experts such as Greg.

Find out more

Please contact Simone Cameron at drp@ntfarmers.org.au.

VegNET 3.0 is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Project Number: VG21000