Hort Innovation will return as Principal Partner at this year's Hort Connections, set to begin on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, at the Brisbane Convention Centre. The organisation will showcase a wide range of initiatives, from investments in machine learning and data-driven productivity improvements to interactive experiences that challenge how attendees think about fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
At the Hort Innovation booth, visitors can explore a variety of exhibits that highlight both innovation and sustainability in horticulture. Among the offerings will be "curious confections" such as sweet corn and beetroot ice cream, along with carrot and papaya marshmallows, all designed to present new ways of enjoying produce. In addition, treats that address food waste will be featured, including Happles and Merries from Gina's Table, a freeze-dried snack line made from upcycled, unmarketable fruits by a family-run business. Also on display will be Wonki drinks, which combine misshapen fruits saved from Australian farms with local vodka and soda water, helping to rescue 2.5 to 3 kilograms of surplus fruit per case from being discarded.
© Hort Innovation
To further promote industry development and share insights from research and development projects, Hort Innovation will take part in several panel and plenary sessions. On Friday, 6 June at 8:50 a.m., Julie Bird will deliver the opening plenary with a welcome address that highlights the importance of horticulture, recognises recent achievements, and outlines a vision for future growth and collaboration. Later that morning at 9:40 a.m., Tom McCue, R&D Manager at Hort Innovation, will lead a session on vegetable mechanisation, focusing on the outcomes of project VG23003 and the adoption of agricultural technology both locally and globally. At 1:30 p.m., a session on the latest consumer trends will present insights gathered from the HortIQ portal, Nielsen purchasing data, and Fiftyfive5's consumer tracking to inform business strategies and category management for fresh produce. At 2:00 p.m., a panel discussion will explore the role of artificial intelligence in horticulture, showcasing technologies backed by Hort Innovation Frontiers that are driving productivity, decision-making, and sustainability across the sector.
Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield said, "We are looking forward to returning to Hort Connections in 2025. From food combinations that challenge the way we think about produce, to robots on farms automating processes for Australian growers, we will have lots to share with those in attendance this year." He encouraged conference attendees to visit the Hort Innovation trade floor stand, meet the team, and engage with the work being done across the industry.
This year marks a decade of support and the eighth consecutive year that Hort Innovation has partnered with Hort Connections, in collaboration with AUSVEG and the International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand, to support innovation, collaboration, and growth within the horticulture sector.
For more information:
Shannon O'Mara
Hort Innovation
Tel: +61 (0) 427 142 537
Email: [email protected]
www.horticulture.com.au
