The 11th Ag Innovation Expo 2025 brought together farmers, service providers, agribusiness, researchers, students and technology exhibitors for two days of innovation, collaboration, and practical insights into soil health, paddock preparation, and emerging ag tech.

Ian Layden from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries was at the expo to run a farm mechanisation field demo as part of the VegMech project, a three-year project to help Australian vegetable growers adopt advanced mechanisation technology. Ian also joined a timely panel discussion on the key issues facing Tasmania’s onion sector, where he spoke about how agtech could be part of the solution.

AUSVEG’s Campbell Cooney caught up with Ian to talk about the new agtech on display at the event, and how vegetable growers are integrating it into their businesses.

The VegMech project is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government, under project code VG23003.

The onion panel discussion Ian took part in was part of the onion industry communications and extension project, funded by Hort Innovation using the onion levy and contributions from the Australian Government, under project code VN21000.