PCA2023

Delegate Handbook

pcaconference.net.au PEOPLE. PLANET. PROFITS

TableofContents

WELCOME

3

INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES AND PRESENTERS

5

Venue Directory Registration Desk Registration Inclusions Speaker Preparation Special Meal Requests Conference App Welcome Reception Conference Dinner Social Media

5 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7

Wi-Fi

SPEAKERS

9

Keynote Speakers Invited Speakers Confirmed Speakers

9

12 18 18

MC

PARTNERS

21

EXHIBITORS

24

PROGRAM

25

TOURS

32

NOTES

33

2

Welcome

On behalf of the Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) Board, I am delighted for you to attend the PCA2023 Conference held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference theme for PCA2023 is “Growing our Future.” A range of inspiring and thought-provoking speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors from here in Australia and abroad will share their knowledge, research, and innovations to all delegates. Protected Cropping is one of the fastest growing horticultural sectors in Australia and PCA have an enviable reputation of running great events filled with knowledge building and networking opportunities. PCA is the peak industry body representing commercial hydroponic, greenhouse and controlled environment growers in Australia and has a wide international following. A key feature of PCA2023 is working with our partners, the allied trade and equipment suppliers to encourage greater grower attendance through subsidising up to 150 free grower trade show passes. This has provided increased visitation to our popular exhibition trade show and include tailored skills training for growers to meet the needs of the various sectors PCA represent. The Protected Cropping industry encompasses many sectors of horticulture including, but not limited to fruits, vegetables, berries, leafy greens, herbs, cut flowers, nursery, medicinal cannabis and aquaponics, vertical farms and controlled environmental agriculture industries. An innovative and fresh program of speakers, networking events, training and grower discussion panels will feature in addition to the regular conference program, exhibition trade show, conference dinner and the ever-popular farm tours. PCA will also collaborate with our partners to continue supporting our students and provide additional support to the protected cropping next generation cohort to attend and make new connections at this exciting, not to be missed event. Welcome to Brisbane!

Matthew Plunkett Chair, Protected Cropping Australia

ConferenceSecretariat

ASN Events Pty Ltd 9/397 Smith St, Fitzroy 3065

P : +61 3 8658 9530 F +61 3 8658 9531 Conference Email jordyn.t@asnevents.net.au Web www.asnevents.com.au

3

Information for Delegates and Presenters

Cnr Merivale and Glenelg Streets Brisbane, QLD Telephone: (07) 3308 3000 VenueDirectory

M3

M10

Location

Item

M2

Great Hall Foyer

Great Hall 2

Plenary Sessions

M1

Concurrent Sessions

M1, M2 & M3

Great Hall

Great Hall Foyer

Registration Desk

Exhibition and Catering

Great Hall 1, 3, 4

M10

Speaker Prep

RegistrationDesk The registration desk is located in the Great Hall Foyer. Any enquiries regarding your participation in the meeting can be directed to the ASN staff onsite. The registration desk opening hours are as follows: • Monday 17th July: 2:00pm – 6:00pm • Tuesday 18th July: 7:00am – 5:15pm • Wednesday 19th July: 7:30am – 5:15pm RegistrationInclusions All Full Registrations Include: • Name Tag • Access to all program sessions across duration of the conference • Conference catering (morning/afternoon teas and lunches, as per final program) • A ticket to the Welcome Function on Monday evening (Full registrations only) • A ticket to the Conference Dinner on Wednesday evening (Full registrations only) • Access to the conference ‘App’ (including the conference program, invited speaker profiles and abstracts) • Complimentary Wi-Fi access within the conference space

SocialMedia We invite all PCA attendees to use the official conference hashtag #PCA2023 when posting about the conference on social media. Adding #PCA2023 to your post can help connect you with other conference attendees. Search for #PCA2023 on Facebook and Twitter throughout the program to share and engage with highlights from colleagues. Be sure to follow PCA on Facebook. SpeakerPreparation You must keep to the time allocated. You are asked to sit at the front of the presentation room and be ready to present at the lectern when you are introduced by the session chairs. Speakers should upload their talk in the speaker prep room which is M10 Speaker Prep. It is important that you upload your presentation at least one break prior to your session commencing, however the speaker preparation room will be open the following hours and you are welcome to visit the techs during these hours:

• Tuesday 18th July: 6:00am – 5:30pm • Wednesday 19th July: 6:00am – 5:00pm

SpecialMealRequests If you have been nominated for a special meal (dietary requirements, vegetarian, etc.) please identify yourself to the venue staff. All requests have been passed onto the venue and will be catered for accordingly.

5

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Information for Delegates and Presenters

ConferenceApp Download the official PCA 2023 App to access the latest information. You can flag sessions of interest, view floor plans, read abstracts and search for speakers by name. To download the PCA 2023 App onto your smart phone or tablet device follow these instructions: 1 Search for ‘Currinda’ via the App Store from the following platforms or simply scan the QR code

ConferenceDinner The Conference Dinner is without a doubt one of the highlights of the meeting. Come and celebrate at Felons Barrel Hall, Howard Smith Wharves on Wednesday the 19th of July 2023, from 7:00pm to 11:00pm. Do not forget your dancing shoes! Please see the registration desk if you don’t have a ticket on your name badge.

Venue: Felons Barrel Hall, Howard Smith Wharves Dress Code: Smart casual but colourful!

Transfers: A complimentary bus service departs Glenelg Street, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at 6:10pm and 6:50pm. Please arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time to secure your seat on the bus. At the conclusion of the dinner there will be buses departing at 10:20pm and 11:00pm Conference Dinner sponsored by

• Android Products: Google Play • Apple Products: App Store 2 Once you have downloaded the App, you will be prompted to log in 3 First you must click on the ‘Client’ box and search for ‘ASN’ 4 Select ‘ASN’ from the list provided below and then you can log in with your email address and password you used to register for the conference

Wi-Fi There is complimentary Wi-Fi available for PCA delegates within the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre for the duration of the conference. To access simply: Select ‘PCA2023’ wireless service via Settings > Wi-Fi Enter password OPW_2023

The Smartphone ‘App’ will allow you to: • View the full conference program

• Save your favourite sessions and plan your day • View and search for speaker bios and abstracts • Take notes which will then be saved and downloaded

Wifi sponsored by

from your registration profile. • View partners and exhibitors

You will be prompted to login each day. For further assistance please see ASN staff at the Registration Desk. WelcomeReception The Welcome Reception will be held on Monday the 17th of July 2023 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Exhibition Area, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Please see the registration desk to see if there are still places available.

For more information on Owen Pacific Workforce, please contact: Craig Owen CEO Owen Pacific Workforce m: +61 412 135 803 e: craigowenopw@gmail.com

Welcome Function sponsored by

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Speakers

Kirstin Ferguson Keynote Speaker

As an award-winning and globally recognised leader, executive coach, company director, writer and speaker, Kirstin is one of Australia’s most prominent leadership experts, derived from her 30-year executive career in addition to her PhD in leadership and culture. Kirstin is also making a global impact, with UK-based Thinkers50 naming her one of the world’s top 30 “Thinkers to Watch” and she was shortlisted for the Distinguished Award in Leadership in 2021. Kirstin’s unique combination of skills and experience has driven her passion to inspire and educate all to lead from the head and the heart – because she believes everyone is a leader. Kirstin’s career includes over a decade of experience on a range of company boards,

including a previous appointment by the Australian Prime Minister as Acting Chair and Deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She’s also been the CEO of a global consulting company, a senior executive at a leading corporate law firm, and spent nearly 10 years as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. A passionate advocate for women, diversity, and inclusion, she’s responsible for sparking a viral social media campaign called #CelebratingWomen, and is the co-author of award-winning book, Women Kind. Her next book, Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership will be published by Penguin Random House. © ICMI Speakers and Entertainers Adelaide • Auckland • Brisbane • Gold Coast

• Hobart • Melbourne • Newcastle • Perth • Sunshine Coast • Sydney Kirstin is a sought-after executive coach and public speaker, sits on multiple boards and writes for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, answering the nation’s work, leadership and culture questions in her weekly column, Got A Minute? Kirstin is deeply committed to helping people become the best leaders they can be and helping them to leave a positive legacy in the world. Kirstin believes that while curiosity, wisdom, perspective, and capability will always be important; leading with humility, insight, courage and empathy is just as vital. Leading with the head and the heart is the art of modern leadership and is an ethos Kirstin embodies, and inspires others to live by, every day.

Henry Gordon-Smith Keynote Speaker

Henry Gordon-Smith is a sustainability strategist focused on urban agriculture, water issues, and emerging technologies. Henry was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Japan, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Canada, Spain, Austria, and the United States. Henry earned his BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, coursework in Food Security and Urban Agriculture from Ryerson University in Toronto, and an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. In 2011, Henry started exploring urban agriculture and launched the blog “Agritecture” to share case studies and analysis from around the world. In 2013,

Henry Co-Founded the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) and served on the board until July 2017. In 2014, Henry responded to a global need for technology-agnostic guidance on urban agriculture by launching the advisory firm Agritecture Consulting which has now consulted on over 250 urban agriculture projects in over 40 countries. Agritecture Consulting primarily helps entrepreneurs with vertical farming feasibility studies, recruiting, and systems design. In 2018, Henry was voted top 10 in Produce (USA) and 40 under 40 food policy influencers (NYC). In 2019, Henry was accepted as a Guelph University Food Policy Fellow and an advisor to the Ryerson University urban agriculture and food security

curriculum development committee. Henry was named as a top 20 influencer in food and agriculture by Rabobank in December 2019. Henry serves on the advisory board of numerous AgTech startups including Smallhold and Foodshed.io. Henry serves on the board of directors for the not-for-profit food access organization Teens for Food Justice in NYC. Henry has spoken on the topic of urban agriculture in 6 continents and has been interviewed about urban and vertical farming for the WSJ, Futurism, Men’s Health, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, Arabian Business, CNBC, and many more.

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Paul Gauthier Keynote Speaker

Professor Gauthier is one of the world’s leading experts in vertical farming and protected cropping with many years of experience both in academia and the industry managing research teams. After more than 10 years in academia studying plant physiology from cells to ecosystems, he most recently led the R&D New Product and System Innovation Group at Bowery Farming

for three years, delivering new products to the market including the first strawberry grown at scale indoors. His previous research at Princeton University focused on understanding the sustainability of vertical farms both economically and environmentally. In July 2022, Professor Gauthier took up a position as Professor of Protected Cropping at Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and

Food Innovation (QAAFI), where he is building a research team. He is focusing on tropical and sub-tropical crops, an emerging industry with a high growth rate. Professor Gauthier’s project is looking at high-value pharmaceutical and nutraceutical crops that can be grown indoors.

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Speakers

Les Blackwell Speaker

As a Rolls Royce trained aeronautical engineer with 30 years’ experience in international aerospace and maintenance. During his career, Les has acquired considerable know- how in gas turbines and related systems and has consulted for some of the worlds leading airlines and the defence industry.

Over the past decade, Les has developed unique, world first technical and commercial solutions at Optimal Group, which have demonstrated a deep and creative understanding across a broad range of engineering disciplines.

Recently, Les has led the design and development of quad-generation solutions for the protected cropping industry, tailored to the unique challenges for Australian growers.

Jenny Ekman Speaker

Dr Ekman is a postharvest physiologist and communicator who works to maximise produce freshness and value while minimising supply chain losses. She is passionate about applying science to improve commercial and consumer outcomes. Dr Ekman has more than 25 years’ horticultural research experience

in Australia, the USA and internationally. Awarded the Bayer Vegetable Researcher of the year in 2021, she has led diverse research projects on everything from food safety to fruit-fly management and broccoli to zucchini. She is also a skilled communicator, understanding how to communicate research-

based information in an engaging and easy- to-understand way. When not exploring the scientific world, she loves nothing better than exploring the countryside on bicycle or motorbike.

Mike Evans Speaker

Marketer: Fresh Partners Pty Ltd 0419 843 253

unique shopper value in each market. With a 6-step framework, Mike guides producers to understand and engage shoppers’ wants. This in turn ensures growers build sustainable businesses with direction and profit.

With Fresh Partners, Mike has delivered results in Vegetable and Potato crops, Tropical fruits, Berries, Bananas, Apples, Stone-fruit and Nuts.

Mike Evans is a passionate advocate for fostering a strong connection between growers and shoppers. Mike strongly believes that nothing has ever been bought on price alone, which emphasises the magic of offering

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Speakers

Lucy Haslam Speaker

Lucy is a retired nurse, mother and grandmother from NSW but now residing in Queensland. Her 20-year nursing career included the establishment of a successful home nursing care agency. Together with husband Lou (a retired NSW Police officer), they raised three sons in Tamworth. Lucy always considered herself fairly conservative in her views and strict in her parenting style but the diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer for her youngest son Daniel, in 2010, challenged her perceptions around cannabis as it became a miraculous remedy for the extreme side effects of chemotherapy. With a strong desire to care for her son, Lucy embarked on a mission to educate herself and the Australian audience about the therapeutic properties of cannabis. In 2014 Lucy and Daniel were considered criminals as they accessed cannabis on the black market. Dan lost his battle with cancer in February 2015. Despite this Lucy’s campaign for

the re-introduction of Medicinal Cannabis has seen its legal status change at a state and federal level. Lucy founded United in Compassion in 2014 and she now sees her role as both advocate for other patients and as an educator in Dan’s memory. In her role as UIC Director Lucy strives to keep the emerging industry patient centric and morally grounded. In 2014 she organised the Inaugural Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium and followed up in 2016, 2017 and 2019 with three more international conferences with the next event in planning for the Sunshine Coast in May 2022. Lucy sat on the Advisory Council for the NSW Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation and on the ACT Non-Executive Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Council. In 2020 Lucy Co-Founded the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association where she fulfils the role of Chair. The same year she also founded The Australian Chapter of the Society of Cannabis

Clinicians. She is keen to remain active in the industry to continue to represent patients and keep their needs at the centre of the emerging medicinal cannabis market. Lucy was nominated and a NSW State finalist in the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards. She has received the Paul Harris Fellowship Rotary Award for her medicinal cannabis advocacy and was named as one of the top 100 Women of Influence in 2016, again for her work in reintroducing medicinal cannabis. Lucy believes that once you understand the benefits of Medicinal Cannabis and its potential to relieve suffering, you cannot hold on to views that were born of the “war on drugs”. She predicts that Cannabis will one day be viewed as a “wonder drug” and hopes that mothers and nurses can lead the revolution!

Dr Katja Hogendoorn Speaker

Dr Katja Hogendoorn is a senior researcher of bees and crop pollination at the University of Adelaide. Her research focuses on bees as pollinators of crops and native plants, and investigating the management decisions that improve bee health, biodiversity, and

crop pollination services, outside and in protected cropping. This involves improving the understanding of the factors that influence bee foraging and nesting behaviour, so their natural requirements can be better met. In addition, she translates this information

for beekeepers, growers of pollination dependent crops, and restoration and land care managers, to achieve better outcomes for crop pollination and biodiversity. Currently, she is focusing on improving pollination services in netted apple orchards.

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Elio Jovicich Speaker

Dr. Elio Jovicich is a Senior Horticulturist and Protected Cropping Program Leader with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Queensland Australia. For the past 30 years Elio has worked in integrated crop management of vegetables in field and greenhouse production systems, in applied research, extension, and teaching.

Since 1997, he has been working in protective cropping systems for regions with mild winter climates and sub-tropical and tropical climates. He has experience working with research projects in Argentina, USA and Australia, as well as experience with projects and production systems in Mexico, Barbados, Chile, Spain, Italy, Israel, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

Elio and a project team recently completed AS19005, Australian Protected Cropping RD&E Strategy 2030; a co-investment by Hort Innovation, DAF, and Food Innovation Australia (FIAL).

Pavlos Kalaitzoglou Speaker

As the VP of Science at Infarm, an indoor farming company that revolutionizes urban agriculture through vertical farming and patented technology, I play a pivotal role in managing the Science Team and driving the scientific direction of our product development roadmap. My responsibilities include overseeing multiple indoor farming products, managing strategic partnerships with industry and academic leaders, and supervising the Crop Science teams that focus on crop protection, agronomy, crop quality, genetics, and nutritional biochemistry.

In my role, I also strive to continuously improve project management and research practices to enhance visibility, scalability, alignment, and accountability across the organization. I lead the agronomical development of products that integrate cross-functional systems and teams, including specialized lighting, automation, HVAC, and irrigation. As a thought leader and mentor, I foster a culture of positive thinking, constant learning, collaboration, and improvement within the development teams. I formulate and execute metric-based processes to measure

and improve our overall performance, coach team members to maximize their potential, and drive a strong research culture based on learning, optimism, teamwork, and career development. Ultimately, I am responsible for making final decisions on development matters and ensuring the effective achievement of our objectives.

Carl Larsen Speaker

Carl is a socio-environmental scientist with 15 years’ experience in planning, delivery and evaluation of agriculture and natural resource management programs, integrated water management, climate change and stakeholder engagement. He understands

the practical implications of policy and science on communities and agriculture. Carl has worked with a range of government departments, resource management agencies, research and development corporations, private organisations and communities

around Australia on catchment management, sustainable water use, resource management in agriculture/horticulture, land use, climate change, strategic planning, industry development, extension and practice change.

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Speakers

Greg Murdoch Speaker

Greg Murdoch is a Horticulture Manager for Costa Berry International with over 15 years agribusiness experience with detailed knowledge of crop production and agricultural supply chains. Greg graduated from the University of Sydney with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Entomology and has previously worked

in Research and Development, Regulatory Affairs and within the Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). Greg’s role within Berry International supports Costa’s African Blue business based in Morocco and the Costa / Driscoll’s joint ventures in China.

Since 2018, a large focus has been on leading the growth of blueberry production in Zimbabwe and Zambia in a strategic move to broaden African Blue’s market reach and extend seasonal supply of blueberries to its customer base.

Giao Nguyen Speaker

Dr Giao Nguyen is a vegetable research scientist of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. He has more than 20 years of research experience in crop physiology and agronomy in Vietnam, Australia, USA and Japan. He has expertise in the field of

digital plant phenotyping and remote sensing technology in agriculture. He has been working on the protected cropping research program for vegetable crops in Western Australia since 2020. He works closely with Western Australian vegetable growers and other stakeholders

on various research projects. His current studies aim to introduce local growers to the suitable and affordable protected cropping structures and the good agricultural practices for improved yield and quality, improved water and nutrient use efficiency and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Andrew Olley Speaker

Josefine Pettersson Speaker

Australian Organic Limited (AOL) is the peak national body advocating on behalf of its members and often more broadly the organic sectors it represents.

experience in both cropping, horticulture and livestock. Having worked in the EU and Australia, she brings a new perspective of Organic Agriculture and insight to advancing opportunities of Australian producers. As part of her new technical role at AOL, she

is focused on standards development and market access to further advance the organic and sustainable agricultural industry.

Josefine Pettersson has a Masters of Agroecology coupled with industry

15

Emily Rigby Speaker

Emily is a research scientist and passionate advocate for medicinal cannabis – promoting education, patient access, research, innovation, industry development, efficient production and regulatory reform. Since 2016, Emily has played an integral role in developing the Australian medicinal cannabis industry, including establishing one of Australia’s first licenced medical cannabis cultivation and research facilities and releasing Australian grown cannabis medicines into local and export markets. Emily is also assisting in developing international cannabis industries. Emily is on the Board of the Australian

Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA) and Director at Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) – Australia’s peak industry body for hydroponic and greenhouse growers. Emily was President of the Australian Society of Horticultural Science from 2017 to 2021 and is a 2016 Nuffield Australia Farming Scholar. Emily was recognised as Australia’s 2021 ‘Woman of Weed’ in the Australian Cannabis Awards for her contribution to female leadership in the cannabis space.

regulatory compliance, strategic planning, patient access, education, marketing and research from plant to patient. Emily is dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding the Cannabis plant and facilitating the global cannabis industry.

Emily has a diverse range of expertise including propagation and cultivation methods, facility design, licencing &

Craig Shephard Speaker

Craig Shephard has over 20 years professional experience in the mapping of landscape attributes - particularly land cover and land use. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Environmental Science and Geography from Macquarie University, and

is particularly focused on the application of web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Location is the common framework for integrating data to inform decision-making at multiple scales. Craig actively contributes to the Australian

Collaborative Land Use and Management Program (ACLUMP), coordinated by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). ACLUMP promotes nationally consistent land use information for Australia.

Kristen Stirling Speaker

Dr Kristen Stirling is an experienced researcher and industry development specialist with a passion for working with horticultural producers. She completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honours at the University of Tasmania and was an awarded a Doctor of Philosophy for her research on the physiology and production management of Japanese

Ginger (Zingiber mioga) in Australia. Over the last twenty years she has worked across numerous horticultural industries in Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria conducting agronomic research and extending the findings of this research to producers. Using her strong understanding of agricultural production and value chain management

Kristen has assessed the capability of land for agriculture, and the potential impact of land use change. She has worked with local government and private business to help them plan for, and manage, the needs of industry and community in peri-urban and regional areas. This has included land capability assessments and the development of rural land use strategies for local government.

16

Speakers

Sam Turner Speaker

Sam Turner is a passionate and experienced leader with over 15 years of diverse roles in production, industry bodies, R&D organisations, logistics and agronomy. He has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing farmers, researchers, innovators, and policymakers. Sam is currently the Executive Officer of Protected Cropping Australia LTD, a national industry body representing the Australian protected cropping sector. In this role, he is responsible for leading the organisation's strategic direction and delivering on its mission to grow and strengthen the Australian protected cropping industry.

Prior to this, Sam held a number of senior roles at AUSVEG, the peak body for the Australian vegetable industry. In his most recent role as National Coordinator of VegNET, AUSVEG's national industry network for vegetable growers, Sam developed and implemented national agricultural extension programs to increase the impact of agricultural research. As R&D Manager, Trade at Hort Innovation, the national research and development corporation for Australian horticulture, Sam oversaw the development of export opportunities for Australian horticulture. Sam began his career as a Production Agronomist at South Pacific Seeds, where he

worked with vegetable growers to improve crop yields and quality to produce quality seed at scale. He then moved into logistics, working as a Logistics Coordinator and Compliance Officer at Otway Livestock Exports. Sam is a graduate of the La Trobe University, where he holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours), as well as a graduate certificate in Agribusiness from Marcus Oldham.

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Heidi Wiggenhauser Speaker

Heidi Wiggenhauser is a Horticulturist in the Protected Cropping Team at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). With 12 years of experience in research, development, and extension she is a key team member in DAF’s protected cropping program. Heidi focuses on training and extension by means of a hands-on and learning-by-doing methods. She has experience with numerous

vegetable crops and growing systems. Heidi works closely with growers and supports them through their adoption journey. She conducts on-farm evaluations and operates the DAF’s research and demonstration greenhouse in Ayr, Qld. Her versatile skills and technical experience have contributed to numerous research projects that assisted the horticulture industry. Heidi has a bachelor’s

degree at Häme University of Applied Sciences in Finland, and against the odds, she has become a greenhouse specialist for tropical and subtropical climates. Outside work Heidi is a passionate gardener, gym enthusiast, and loves spending time at home with her two dogs.

ConfirmedSpeakers Mathew Arnold Karen Bezerra da Silva Santos Dominque Doyle Jason Durham Mike Evans Cherie Gambley Katja Hora Chris Lehnert Wei Liang Sukhvinder Pal Singh Tracey Perez Tyson Peterswald Anne Sawyer Graeme Smith

Tracey Perez Lennard Garcia-de Heer Bede Miller Fiona Turner

Marcus Van Heijst Ben Nikaj Henry Bosman Odin Franseen Tony Bundock Cheyne Clarke Zak Iqbal

Henrietta Child Robin Sherlock Andrew Macnish Jake Gaudion Rohan Davies Renga Ramasamay Steve Kim Daniel Tzvetkoff Matt Keltie

Jasper Verhoven Gabrielle Wallace Chris Wilkins Rachel Thompson Jurnjan van den Bremer Ivan Casteels Melanie Power

Josh Pirrone Bart Stengs Adrian Hunt Jake Byrne Dan Papacek Greg Murdoch

Clinton McGrath Alistair McTaggert Grant Owen

Helen Kapalos MC

18 worked for all three Australian commercial networks and both public broadcasters. Helen has published several national editorials on issues surrounding the challenges faced by minority communities, is a regular radio commentator and authored a book titled ‘Proud to Belong’ on everyday multiculturalism. Helen is a captivating speaker, engaging audiences with her expertise in public policy development in diversity and inclusion, ethical leadership and self-empowerment. Presentation topics include: Proud to Belong’ - everyday multiculturalism Public policy development in diversity and inclusion Ethical leadership Self-empowerment

An accomplished journalist, presenter and executive producer with over 20 years’ experience, Helen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who directed, produced and appeared in a ground breaking film on medical cannabis. In fact the film was one of a handful of Australian documentaries chosen to be acquired by Netflix. It also appeared on SBS Television and was screened nationally to Australian audiences. In 2015 Helen was appointed by the Victorian State Government to lead the Victorian Multicultural Commission, completing a four year term as Chairperson. As the voice of Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Helen led the Commission through its most dynamic era, receiving several awards during her time as commissioner. More recently she was awarded the prestigious Vice Chancellor’s

Fellow for Multicultural Engagement at Swinburne University - a role created to provide expertise on contemporary multicultural issues and challenges. She is also an fearless innovator and during her time as commissioner she established an Australian-first internship program with ABC Australia, and a successful Victorian Film competition in partnership with leading Universities. She has also been called on present at international forums on the role of community and media in counter terrorism policy. She was the first Victorian commissioner to create a strategy with the private sector, to reduce unconscious bias and tackle systemic employment issues. A respected national news broadcaster, she has extensive experience across several media organisations, and in her time as a broadcaster

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Partner Conference Dinner

Partner Welcome Function

Partner Coffee Cart

Partner Delegate Gift

Pocket Program

Partner Lunch Catering

Partner

Farm Tour Partners

Session Partner

Wifi Partner

Speaker Partner

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With over 26 years of global experience, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and a commitment to sustainability, we ensure timely project delivery and serviceability. + Proprietary turn-key solutions for crops, nursery, flowers and R&D + Fully automated, high tech vertical farms (enclosed and greenhouse) + Manufacturing capability 100ha+ annually Experience the next generation of farming technology. Revolutionise your farming practices with GreenPlus

green-plus.com.au

unitec-group.com

Innovative sorting lines and quality selection for around 50 different types of fruits .

UNITEC cares about your fruits and your business.

Discover UNITEC solutions.

UNITEC Asia Pacific Melbourne - Australia Ph. +61 3 9870 0155

Exhibitors

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Program

Monday17July2023

Plant Empowerment Workshop M2

Start program Opening session Introduction Plant Empowerment Sam Turner (PCA), Ton Habraken, Remy Maat, Evripidis Papadopoulos

8:30 AM

Ton Habraken Uniformity in Climate – part 1

9:00 AM

10:00 AM Morning Tea

Ton Habraken Uniformity in Climate – part 2 Remy Maat Uniformity in the Root zone

10:20 AM

10:45 AM

12:15 PM Lunch

Evripidis Papadopoulos Uniformity in data

1:00 PM

2:00 PM Registration & Exhibition Open

2:30 PM

PE in practice – How to get started – part 1

3:00 PM Afternoon Tea

3:20 PM

PE in practice – How to get started – part 2

Ton Habraken PE in practice – Grower on stage

4:15 PM

Closing Ton Habraken, Remy Maat, Evripidis Papadopoulos

4:45 PM

5:00 PM End

6:00 PM Welcome Function in Exhibition

Welcome Function Sponsored by

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Hort Innovation set to invest in the future of protected cropping

Protected Cropping Australia and Hort Innovation partnered in March 2023 to host the Future of Protected Cropping Research Summit. A diverse group of stakeholders explored opportunities to invest in a research program to support the Australian Protected Cropping Strategy 2021-2030. The themes developed were: • Sustainability, environmental, social and governance • Advanced agronomy • Identification, evaluation and adoption of technology. Further consultation will occur at this conference before Hort Innovation begins the investment process. To discuss opportunities for R&D in protected cropping get in touch with Hort Innovation R&D Manager Adrian Hunt at adrian.hunt@horticulture.com.au. • Market development and insights • Attracting and retaining people

Bag to the future The new growbag  Perfect for growing vegetable and strawberry  Completely new development and innovative concept  High sustainability  Reliable, year-round availability  Healthy crop development and high yield

Horticulture Horticulture

RIVULIS PROTECTED AGRICULTURE ULTIMATE IRRIGATION CONTROL

Grow with the pros

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

INSIDE TEMPERATURE

Luca Travaglini Planet Farms, Italy

FERTIGATION

IRRIGATION RATE

Greenhouse, tunnel or nethouse, growing high producing, high quality, high health crops is the business you’re in. And we make it our business too. To find out more visit rivulis.com/protected

GROW BEYOND

#growwiththepros www.philips.com/horti

Philips GreenPower LED production module

Program

Tuesday18July2023

Plenary Session Great Hall 2

Session Sponsored by

Welcome to Country and Opening Address

8:30 AM

Minister Furner

8:45 AM

Dr Kirstin Ferguson

9:00 AM

PCA Awards

10:00 AM

10:30 AM Morning Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Sessions

SUSTAINABILITY & WASTE Great Hall 2

GROWER WORKSHOP M1&2

VERTICAL FARMING M3

Carl Larsen National Product Stewardship for Agricultural Plastics – Insights and Lessons

PC101 Part 1: PC Growing Systems, Structures & Climate

Daniel Tzvetkoff Sowing the Future: Challenges and Triumphs in Building a Vertical Farm Pavlos Kalaitzoglou Automation of plant growth monitoring and recipe adjustment through a data driven biofeedback system Chris Horne Pairing tradition with technology: growing Australia’s future with CEA Matt Keltie 26 Season’s pathway to commercially growing strawberries in a vertical garden

11:10 AM

Graeme Smith, Tony Bundock, Henry Bosman, Odin Franssen

Jason Durham Plastic Smart Program - Supporting Industry and Securing Supply

11:25 AM

Dominique Doyle The Success of Industry Led Product Stewardship

11:40 AM

Matthew Arnold Executive Chef, BCEC - kitchen sustainability and food waste distribution

11:55 AM

Panel Great Hall 2 FARMING FOR OUR FUTURE - PEOPLE PLANET PROFITS Sam Turner, Emily Rigby, Paul Gauthier and Niall Blair

12:10 PM

12:45 PM Lunch & Exhibition

Lunch Sponsored by

Concurrent Sessions

PEOPLE, SKILLS & NUFFIELD PANEL Great Hall 2 Grant Owen I’ve never been in this position before: benefits of a returning seasonal workforce Henrietta Child Reflections on Hort Award changes one year on and what’s next? Clinton McGrath South East Queensland Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Vegetable Farmers: An expanding demographic of new farmers in the 21st century Panel Discussion Jodie Redcliffe, Nicky Mann, Emily Rigby, Ross Pirrone & Jan Vydra

GROWER WORKSHOP M1&2 PC101 Part 2: Irrigation, Nutrition & Hygiene Marcus Van Heijst, Ben Nikaj, Melanie Power

IPDM & BIOSECURITY M3

Dan Papacek Innovations in greenhouse IPM technologies

1:45 PM

Jasper Verhoeven Practical approach to hygiene to prevent introduction and spread of bacteria fungi and viruses

2:00 PM

Jake Byrne

2:15 PM

Anne Sawyer RNA-based disease control in protected cropping environments

2:30 PM

Panel Discussion including Cherie Gambley

2:45 PM

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Growers Panel Great Hall 2 Session Chair: Nicky Mann Andrew Mcillwain, George Jessett & Belinda Frentze, Jack Mooney

3:00 PM

3:35 PM Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Sessions

CLIMATE, ENERGY & RENEWABLES Great Hall 2 Rachel Thompson The Next Chapter of the ‘Big Australia’ Opportunity: Renewable Energy Jurnjan van den Bremer High Pressure Fogging, an integral part of climate management! And what this implies to your energy + water management strategy Les Blackwell Developments in energy security for protected cropping.

POLLINATION M1&2

NUTRITION & IRRIGATION M3

Katja Hogendoorn Can mobile pollinizer units help to increase fruit set in protected cropping

Ben Nikaj Integrated Root Zone Management for a successful Crop

4:15 PM

Chris Lehnert Enabling robots to autonomously pollinate flowers in deformable, cluttered and occluded agricultural environments

Stefan Vogrincic What are you looking for in your substrate? The questions I ask myself as a grower and advisor

4:30 PM

Karen Bezerra da Silva Santos Protective nets reduce pollen flow in blueberry orchards

Katja Hora Iodine, applied as micro nutrient in potassium nitrate to fertigated crops, supports plant photosynthesis, root growth and stress resilience, resulting in enhanced yield and quality of fruits. Speaker Sponsored by

4:45 PM

Chris Wilkins Sunlight Optimisation Strategies: Spectrum selective shading and supplemental lighting

Q&A Panel Katja Hogendoorn, Chris Lehnert, Karen Bezerra da Silva Santos, Onyeka Nzie

Wei Liang Yield and fruit quality responses of cucumber, eggplant and capsicum crops to fertigation levels in a high-tech greenhouse

5:00 PM

FREE TIME

5:30 PM

Growers Social Event (Southbank Beer Garden)

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Program

Wednesday 19July2023

Plenary Session Great Hall 2

Henry Gordon-Smith

8:30 AM

Prof Paul Gauthier

9:10 AM

Student R&D Presentation Leny Jane Pame - Exogenous double-stranded RNA as a sustainable control against root pathogens Kayley Camacho - Behaviour and Potential Pollination Success of Australian Native Stingless Bees in Protected Cropping Tyson Peterswald - The effects of photoperiod and light quality on yield parameters in medicinal Cannabis Mark Cardamis - How healthy are your plants Olumuyiwa Elliott - Identification of Changes in Total Volatilome of Tomato Plants in Response to Phosphorous Availability

9:50 AM

10:30 AM Morning Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Sessions

NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN PROTECTED CROPPING Great Hall 2

MARKETING & EXPORT M1&2

POST-HARVEST & FOOD SAFETY M3

Kristen Stirling What are the opportunities for intensive horticulture in urban Australia

Sam Turner Fulfilling Asia’s Demands through Protected Cropping Exports

Sukhvinder Pal Singh Are protected cropping systems invincible to microbial food safety risks?

11:10 AM

Alistair McTaggert Spawn of the millennium: Will magic mushrooms flourish as a new industry in Australia? Fiona Turner Behind the Glass: AI’s Blooming Romance with Protected Cropping Ton Habraken, Evripidis Papadopoulos and Remy Maat Plant Empowerment

Mike Evans Steps to ensure shoppers pay enough for your produce

Robin Sherlock Recalls happen – what can we learn from them to inform and support industry in the future

11:25 AM

Tracey Perez Applying Marketing Principles for Better Business Outcomes Greg Murdoch A grower perspective on meeting blueberry market demands for Europe and Asia

Jenny Ekman Managing microbes for better postharvest quality Andrew Macnish Extending innovation throughout the supply chain for protected cropping produce

11:40 AM

11:55 AM

Panel Great Hall 2

12:10 PM

MARKETING PROTECTED CROPPING & IP Sam Turner, Tracy Perez, Mike Evans, Jodie Campbell

12:45 PM Lunch & Exhibition

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Concurrent Sessions INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT - CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES Great Hall 2

GROWER WORKSHOP M1&2

MEDICINAL CANNABIS M3

Adrian Hunt Investing in the Future of Protected Propping

Transitioning from Soil to Soilless Media Tony Bundock, Zak Iqbal, Josh Pirrone, Cheyne Clarke

Lucy Haslam Dan’s story, and why it hasn’t ended

1:45 PM

Craig Shephard Mapping Protected Cropping Systems in Australia Bart Stengs Trends in industry development and land use planning in the Netherlands

Andrew Olley Efficient Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation

2:00 PM

Tyson Peterswald NSW DPI: Medicinal Cannabis agronomy, pathology and entomology research, is for the other Cannabis presentation Lennard Gracia-de Heer The importance of sex expression in Cannabis sativa

2:15 PM

Gabrielle Wallace The ABCB role in classifying buildings under the National Construction Code

2:30 PM

Q&A Panel Craig Shephard, Nicky Mann & Graham Moss

Emily Rigby The future of cannabis - medical, adult use, food & more!

2:45 PM

Cannabis Growers Panel

3:00 PM

3:15 PM Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Sessions NEW CROPS & PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Great Hall 2 Elio Jovicich RD&E supporting adoption in the tropics/subtropics Bede Miller Strategies to improve the profitability of tree fruit production in temperate and tropical climates with protected cropping systems Heidi Wiggenhauser Specialty crops for the tropics Josefine Pettersson Organic Production with Protected Cropping Systems Giao Nguyen Effects of planting dates on the growth and fruit yield of capsicum varieties in a retractable roof production system under semi-arid climatic conditions

GROWER WORKSHOP M1&2

ROOT ZONE & SUBSTRATE INNOVATION M3

IPDM Jake Byrne, Dan Papacek, Cherie Gambley, Ivan Casteels

Jake Gaudion Hydroponic Berry Production – Coir Reuse, Recycling and Alternative Substrates Joyce Zhu Understanding Rootzone Environment

3:55 PM

4:10 PM

Rohan Davies

4:25 PM

Steve Kim Advanced High-Tech Smart Farm System for Higher Yield Renga Ramasamy Composting end-of-life Rockwool slabs

4:40 PM

4:55 PM

Session Sponsored by

7:00 PM Conference Dinner

Conference Dinner Sponsored by

(Felons Barrel Hall, Howard Smith Wharves) A complimentary bus service departs Glenelg Street, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at 6:10pm and 6:50pm. Please arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time to secure your seat on the bus. At the conclusion of the dinner there will be buses departing at 10:20pm and 11:00pm