Australia and New Zealand’s largest horticulture conference and trade show prepares for another bumper edition with over 4,000 delegates expected
Hort Connections will return to Brisbane on 4-6 June at the Brisbane Convention Centre, following a highly celebrated Hort Connections 2024 in Melbourne.
More than 4,000 delegates are anticipated to attend the premier horticulture event, jointly hosted by Ausveg and the International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA ANZ).
“Hort Connections 2025 is once again firming as the annual, not-to-be-missed opportunity for growers and industry members to get together and catch up on the latest technologies and innovations, as well as the industry’s big issues,” said Ausveg CEO Michael Coote.
The three-day programme will again include farm and retail tours, speaker sessions from over 70 industry experts and panel members and access to the sprawling trade show with over 200 exhibiting companies.
“Hort Connections 2025 features an action-packed and engaging programme, with something for everybody with an interest in the horticulture industry,” said IFPA ANZ managing director Belinda Wilson. “This year’s event is a key opportunity for our entire industry to come together for this annual showcase of all that is great about horticulture.”
Refreshed trade show design
The Hort Connections 2025 trade show will again be open to delegates over three-days. However, this year the show floor will be open for extended hours each day to allow for more networking, deeper connections and greater access to the 200 plus exhibitors.
Exhibitors from across the supply chain will showcase cutting-edge products and solutions, technological innovation and highlight horticultural support for growers and industry stakeholders.
This year will feature a refreshed trade show design and updated layout to offer more value to exhibitors and delegates. It will include two presentation areas with more seating than ever before, encouraging further networking opportunities.
Speaker Highlights
Hort Connections speakers will showcase the latest research, technologies, and innovations to offer new perspectives on the future of Australasia’s horticulture industry.
Julius Joel, a director of the UK-headquartered international horticulture business G’s Group will speak on the company’s innovative approach to regenerative farming. With more than 30 years of global agribusiness expertise, Joel will share his approach to tech adoption, market dynamics, and climate resilience, while outlining the group’s path to success in the horticulture industry.
Joel joins world-renowned big wave surfer Mark Mathews, and wildlife biologist and filmmaker Chadden Hunter – who has worked alongside David Attenborough – on the Plenary programme. Each will call on their wealth of 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.
Emeritus professor of food marketing from Imperial College London, and global expert in food industry trends, agribusiness, and retail, David Hughes, will update delegates on the latest in global industry developments and their implications for Australian horticulture.
Nielsen IQ director Shansel Sami and Hort Innovation consumer insights manager, Wendy Hubbard will share the latest category insights on fruit, vegetables and nuts using Hort Innovation’s consumer and customer data portal Hort IQ.
And Charles Simons the chief sales officer at BioScout will offer insights on the benefits of AI and machine learning for growers alongside experts in resilient farm systems, packaging, vegetable consumption, Ag-Tech, agribusiness and more.
Gala Dinner
The event will conclude on the evening of 6 June with the Hort Connections Gala Dinner and the presentation of the Horticulture Awards for Excellence including the 2024 Seeka Marketer of the Year Award.
