by Peter Wren-Hilton | Jan 25, 2022 | AgriFutures
Following on from the success of two sell-out events in 2019 and 2020, evokeAG. organiser AgriFutures Australia, today announced Adelaide as the host city for the internationally acclaimed agrifood tech event slated for 21-22 February 2023 in South Australia.
From the AgriFutures Media Release:
Off the back of the cancellation, announced yesterday, of evokeAG. 2021 and 2022 events (Perth and Sydney), AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey, believes next year’s event will play an even more crucial role in powering globally relevant conversations within the agrifood tech ecosystem.
“The disruptive impact of the pandemic has highlighted serious shortfalls in our food security systems. There is an increasing sense of urgency around how we engage in global conversations, mitigate risk to our supply chain and challenge the conventions of what we grow, how we grow it and what we eat. Balance this with an extremely productive Australian agricultural landscape including big yields, and all-time high prices, the evokeAG. 2023 event brings together a collision of opportunities and challenges with the best local and global minds to solve some of these issues,” said Mr Harvey.
The View from Tauranga:
Whilst I was deeply disappointed by the cancellation of the planned 2022 evokeAG conferences in Perth & Sydney, I am delighted by today’s announcement around the appointment of Adelaide as host city in 2023.
I have a particular interest. Back in October, I was the keynote speaker at South Australia’s AdvanceAG conference. I had hoped to attend in person, but unfortunately because of closed borders could only present virtually. It was a strange experience speaking to 500 delegates for ½ hour from my home office in Tauranga. Next February, I’ll have no such excuse and both Jacqui and I are already looking forward to meeting and engaging with so many of the folk connected with post-AdvanceAG.
For some additional context: Back in October 2020, the Government of South Australia released the ‘South Australia AgTech Strategic Plan’. It was a significant piece of work and a number of its recommendations resonated. I recognised that it had brought together different stakeholders including producers, government, research, industry and startups. It was as close as I have seen to the original intent of New Zealand’s own Agritech Industry Transformation Plan. It has seen the State’s agritech ecosystem emerge as one of the most connected across all of Australia. The selection of Adelaide as next year’s evokeAG host city is well deserved.
For more details about the 2023 programme and speakers, check out the evokeAG conference website at www.evokeag.com
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Jan 25, 2022 | Events
It’s with deep regret that AgriFutures Australia has had to announce the cancellation of the 2022 evoke AG. conference in Sydney on 15 March.
Whilst it is disappointing that the region’s agrifood tech community will not be able to connect in person, the health and wellbeing of the evokeAG .community – delegates, speakers, event staff and suppliers – is the most important priority. Given the current COVID outbreak in NSW, now is not the time to place unnecessary pressure on frontline workers, the healthcare system, and supply chain. This is a time to be thinking of others and placing the community at the heart of everything we do.
As a member of the evokeAG steering committee, I fully support the decision. I also acknowledge the sterling work done by the team at AgriFutures and the impact of making such a decision can have. It’s a very unfortunate sign of the times that those of us in New Zealand know only too well. Since our own move to Traffic Light Red on Sunday, my Inbox has been slammed with news of postponed and cancelled events across New Zealand over the coming weeks. These surely are challenging times.
Looking ahead, Wharf42 is looking forward to working with the AgriFutures evokeAG team, as major sponsors of the 2035 Oceania Summit. We are working to bring both New Zealand and Australia’s emerging agrifood tech ecosystem together to discuss one of the world’s biggest long-term challenges; how to support farmers and growers across the globe continue to produce nutritious and affordable food in the face of our changing climate. Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing details across our social media platforms about some significant developments in this space.
It’s a challenge that COVID will not slow down.
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Dec 20, 2021 | Wharf42
As we wind down for the festive season, it’s hard not to reflect on what has been an interesting and at times, a challenging 12 months.
Our focus though is on what’s to come, rather than what’s already happened. For Wharf42, the big news in 2022 is that the delayed 2035 Oceania Summit will end up being bigger and more impactful than originally planned. A number of pre-Summit initiatives now have an extra 5 months of activity to build in advance of the October event. This will include a more significant (in-person) engagement with partners and friends on the other side of the Tasman. The evokeAG conference in March provides both a platform and an opportunity to travel to different parts of Australia. We expect to share some of our planned itinerary in late January.
2022 will no doubt bring new challenges. What we have learnt over the past 20 months however is that people and business have an amazing ability to adapt to the ‘new normal’. Whilst announcing a delay to the original Summit date was unfortunate, we have focused on the silver linings that that delay has created. There are many which is why we approach the New Year with such confidence and excitement.
Jacqui and I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the past 12 months. We are looking forward to getting some time to relax and rest over the summer holidays. From where we are seated, 2022 looks like it it is going to be an A1 year with the opportunity for Wharf42 to do what it does best;
Vision. Execution. Impact.
Wishing everyone a very Happy and a Safe Festive Season!
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Dec 11, 2021 | 2035 Oceania Summit
Given the New Zealand government’s recent announcements around border settings for 2022, we have taken the tough decision to delay the 2035 Oceania Summit to 10-11 October 2022.
Given the large number of international delegates expected to attend the Summit, the restrictions announced, including the need to ‘self-isolate’ for one week, made the decision inevitable. We are delighted that we have managed to retain the use of Auckland’s Aotea Centre and are grateful for the understanding from our sponsors and Summit suppliers.
There are some silver linings in the decision. The delay will provide the opportunity to accelerate the development of a number of planned pre-Summit initiatives, including a new Summit roadshow in Australia. Details of this will be announced in late January.
We will continue to publish full details of your opportunity to actively engage and participate in the Summit at www.2035.ag
by Peter Wren-Hilton | Dec 6, 2021 | 2035 Oceania Summit
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