Secure your tickets now to the main fruit and vegetable conference and trade show opening opens its door to over 4000 delegates for the 2025 event
The flagship horticulture event, Hort Connections 2025, is being held in Queensland this year at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, from Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 June.
The conference and trade show is co-hosted by AUSVEG and the International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA ANZ), with over 4,000 delegates from across the industry in attendance each year.
The Hort Connections program of speakers provides key insights into the challenges, opportunities and hot topics in horticulture as well as networking opportunities, the annual Horticulture Awards for Excellence, and an industry-leading trade show with over 200 exhibitors.
Details of the full program of speakers and exhibitions can be found here. Book your entry to the event here.
Speakers shape up in Brisbane
The Hort Connections 2025 program has the most diverse and engaging line-up of expert speakers, to fully inform growers and industry delegates at the Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticulture event and trade show. See the full program here.
Over three days from 4 to 6 June at the Brisbane Convention Centre, the centrepiece event on the horticulture industry’s calendar offers a comprehensive program of Plenary and Trade Show Sessions, where the latest trends, breakthroughs and views from the local and international industry will be examined and explored.
Julius Joel, a Director of the UK-headquartered international horticulture business G’s Group is the latest big-name addition to the Plenary Sessions.
With more than 30 years of global agribusiness expertise, Julius will energetically unpack G’s innovative approach to regenerative farming, tech adoption, market dynamics, and climate resilience, while outlining the group’s path to success in the horticulture industry.
Julius joins world-renowned big wave surfer Mark Mathews, and wildlife biologist and filmmaker Dr. Chadden Hunter – who has worked alongside Sir David Attenborough – on the Plenary program. Each will call on their wealth of awe-inspiring experiences to captivate and inspire delegates.
Beyond the Plenary stage, a stellar line-up of technical and subject matter experts will keep delegates entertained, informed and engaged during the Trade Show Speaker Sessions, across both Thursday and Friday of Hort Connections.
Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing from Imperial College London, and global expert in food industry trends, agribusiness, and retail, Dr David Hughes, will join experts on AI, machine learning, resilient farm systems, packaging, vegetable consumption, Ag-Tech, agribusiness and much more on an action-packed program.
Day one of Hort Connections will also provide delegates with the opportunity to engage directly with leading growers and Southeast Queensland’s horticulture industry, during the popular farm and retail tours. Spots are strictly limited, so be sure to book now to avoid missing out.
The finishing touches are also being put on Hort Connections’ industry-leading trade show, featuring over 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest and best in products and technology. Meanwhile, Friday night will play host to the Horticulture Awards for Excellence, honouring outstanding achievements in the industry.
Jointly hosted by AUSVEG and the International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA ANZ), Hort Connections 2025 is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4 to 6 June, with delegates attending from around Australia, New Zealand, and the globe.
Growers increase production
Local growers produced an overall 3.83 million tonnes of vegetables in season 2023-24, compared to 3.58 million tonnes the previous year, while overall production value dropped to $5.7 billion from $5.84 billion.
Local growers produce more than 75 horticultural products, including fruit, nuts, vegetables, nursery, turf, and cut flowers.
AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote said recent statistics provided growers and industry with an important picture of macro and micro insights and themes in our horticulture industry.
“This latest data reflects the experiences of local vegetable growers that are supplying more than 98% of the fresh vegetables bought and consumed nationally each year, this is another reminder of how critical our sector is to national food security, and the health of all Australians, Michael Coote continues.
“It is just as critical to ensure that growers have the capacity and opportunity to continue accessing the latest farm productivity and profitability enhancing innovations and breakthroughs, which is why the ongoing program of research and development work funded through grower levies and overseen by Hort Innovation is particularly important in the current business environment,” Michael Coote added.
Reflecting the diversity of crops produced in the local vegetable industry, trends were not universal across all commodities. While production volumes of most vegetable crops recovered in season 2023-24 following challenging climatic conditions the previous year, some crops experienced production drops, such as carrots, cabbages, leeks, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Peas experienced a significant drop of 23%.
Notable volume growth was seen in beans, ginger, head lettuce and cucumbers with growth of 12 to 14%.
As the largest crop group in the local vegetable industry, potatoes recorded a 5% increase in production volume to 1.5 million tonnes, and a 7% increase in production value to $1.1 billion.
While onion production volume grew 7% to 272,000 tonnes, the production value fell 13% to $290 million.
Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield said the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook was an important resource for growers and other members of the industry. “Hort Innovation produces the handbook each year to give industry members the data and insights they need to guide their decision-making.
“This year’s data shows total horticulture production volume increasing by 6.6% to 6.89 million tonnes, which represents a significant bounce back after a challenging season for many categories the year prior. It also demonstrates the resilience and capabilities of growers, Brett Fifield added.
“The total value of horticulture production rose 4.3% to $17 billion, reflecting the crucial role horticulture plays in feeding the nation and the Australian economy,” Brett Fifield concluded.
See the full program of speakers and exhibitions here.
About AUSVEG
AUSVEG is the peak industry body for the Australian vegetable, potato and onion sectors, representing over 3,600 growing businesses that employ tens of thousands of workers and produce over 3.8 million tonnes of produce, with a farmgate value of $5.7 billion.
About Hort Innovation
Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australia’s horticulture industry. Its role is to advance Australia’s $17 billion horticulture industry by investing in research and development, marketing and trade to build a prosperous and sustainable future for growers.
About Horticulture Statistics Handbook
This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using multi-industry research and development levies and funds from the Australian Government under project code MT21006. More information is available here.
