Resilience, mental strength and adaptability under pressure are expected to feature prominently in the keynote address to future grain industry leaders at the Innovation Generation conference in Fremantle next week.
Celebrated track cyclist Anna Meares will address delegates on Wednesday 23 July with a story of grit and innovative thinking, highlighting key elements that allowed her to succeed at the highest level during her cycling career.
Ms Meares leads out the future focused program featuring a range of speakers and agricultural representatives ready to share and discuss real life experiences and address industry opportunities and challenges.
Well-known Western Australian grower Rod Birch, Managing Director of Catalina Farms, will share his story of how he took over operations on the property in 1980 and its journey to present-day success.
Four Pillars Gin co-founder, Stuart Gregor will discuss branding innovation and the premium product market.
Farmsafe Executive Officer Stevi Howdle will be joined by workplace safety advocate Helen Fitzroy for the launch of Second Chances, a new campaign for National Farm Safety Week.
GrainGrowers will also take the opportunity to launch its national Alumni Network which builds on its capacity building programs. It will also launch the next two reports in the GrainGrowers Carbon collection.
In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy this year’s “Great Debate”, which will be taking a light-hearted approach with Team West versus Team East. Well-known figures in the grains industry will be making the case for where on-farm innovation is more advanced.
GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said registrations for the event – now in its 18th year - had been strong, reflecting the value of the industry development opportunity.
“Fremantle will be a great event, and with over 200 young grain industry participants attending it will be an opportunity to learn, update and network with peers from across Australia,” she said.
The program also includes the following:
- How to be consistently good at marketing your grain
- A panel of experienced and successful growers reflecting on lessons learn – what I’d tell my 20-year-old self
- Crop Science Innovation – Tracking fungal felons in the field
- An interactive panel examining what advocacy looks like in grains, with a vote on the biggest issue facing the industry and how it could be addressed
- Growing innovation in regional Australia including how NorVicFoods has created regional jobs and designed internship pathways
- A fireside chat with NFF and Nutrien Ag Solutions looking at the future of the industry, exploring emerging challenges and putting forward some practical strategies to help young farmers thrive
- The future of Australian farming in times of geopolitical turmoil and artificial intelligence
- A panel discussion exploring regenerative agriculture, core principles and real-world opportunities
- Gene editing unpacked – a look at what is next for grains in terms of new crops, the risks and implications including ethical considerations and market acceptance
- A panel discussion on how industry can balance innovation, cost and operational efficiency by investing in the machines of tomorrow.
The event kicks off on Tuesday 22 July with ag tours to Quakers Oats, Little Creatures Brewery, InterGrain and the CBH Group Metro Grain Centre. The conference includes a number of social events to encourage discussion and maximise networking opportunities.
GrainGrowers thanks its Innovation Generation supporters: Platinum Partner, Nutrien Ag Solutions; Keynote Partner, CBH Group; Bespoke Partners, GRDC and the NFF; Activity Night Partner, John Deere; Destination Partner, Western Australia Business Events Perth; Major Financial Partner, Rabobank; Gold Partners, Loam and Planfarm; Bronze Partners, RuralBiz Training and Agworld; Lunch Sponsor, Farmsafe Australia and Sponsor, Intergrain.
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