Australia's premier horticulture event. With over 3,000 delegates from across the supply chain, the conference served as a dynamic platform for growers, researchers, retailers, and policymakers to connect, collaborate, and chart the course for the future of the industry.
The event plenary sessions opened with a powerful welcome from Julie Bird, Chair of the Hort Innovation Board, who underscored the sector's $17 billion contribution to the Australian economy and its vital role in nourishing communities, sustaining regional economies, and supporting environmental health. "We grow more than produce," she said. "We grow possibilities."
Resilience in the face of change
A recurring theme throughout the conference was resilience -particularly in response to rising input costs, labour shortages, and climate volatility. Tom McCue, R&D Manager at Hort Innovation highlighted in his plenary session, "Future-Proofing Australian Vegetables," the urgency to embrace mechanisation and automation. With fertiliser costs up 107% and packaging up 57%, Tom made a compelling case for embracing robotics, AI, and precision farming to maintain profitability and sustainability.
He showcased global innovations-from laser weeders and robotic harvesters to AI-guided smart sprayers-now being trialled in Australia through the VG23003 program. These technologies are not just futuristic concepts; they are already being tested in Tasmanian and Victorian paddocks, offering real-world solutions to today's challenges.
Innovation driving productivity
Innovation was front and centre across the event. Julie Bird emphasised that productivity is no longer just about output-it's about smarter, more sustainable systems. Hort Innovation's investments in tech-enabled horticulture, such as the Ecorobotix ARA Smart Sprayer and autonomous seeders like FarmDroid, are helping growers reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The upcoming Gatton AgTech Showcase 2.0, scheduled for 15-16 October 2025, will further spotlight these innovations, offering growers hands-on access to the latest in automation and protected cropping technologies.
Meanwhile, Wendy Hubbard, Hort Innovation Insights Manager and Shansel Sami, Director at NielsenIQ unveiled Hort IQ 2.0-a powerful consumer insights platform designed to help the industry make data-driven decisions. With AI-guided dashboards, four years of trend data, and category-specific insights, Hort IQ equips growers and other industry stakeholders with the tools to better understand shifting consumer behaviour.
Collaboration as a catalyst
Perhaps the most inspiring takeaway from Hort Connections 2025 was the spirit of collaboration-an essential ingredient in building a resilient and future-ready horticulture sector.
Julie Bird reminded delegates that horticulture is the fastest growing sector in Australian agriculture. From her perspective, that's not by accident. She reflected on the talent, resilience, and adaptability across the value chain. But she also issued a call to action: "To feed the future, we need to rethink how we grow today. And we need to do it against a complex backdrop-climate volatility, labour shortages, rising input costs, and changing consumer expectations."
This sense of shared responsibility was echoed across the event. From grower reference groups guiding innovative trials, to cross industry partnerships, and the integration of consumer insights into strategic planning, the message was clear: the answers aren't just on the horizon-they're already in our hands.
Julie summed it up best: "Lasting change doesn't come from one organisation or one breakthrough idea. It comes from shared effort-partnerships built on trust, clarity, and a deep understanding of what matters most."
Looking ahead
As the conference closed, optimism was high. With a renewed partnership between Hort Innovation, AUSVEG and International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand to continue bringing to life Hort Connections.
In a world of uncertainty, Hort Connections 2025 offered a clear vision: a resilient, innovative, and collaborative horticulture sector that's ready to meet the future together.
