Conference Program

Tuesday 26 – Wednesday 27 July

TUESDAY 26 WEDNESDAY 27

DAY 1: TUESDAY 26 JULY 2022

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
8.30AM CONFERENCE OPENING	The Business of Berries – A Global View	Introduction & Welcome to Country Ashley Walmsley, Conference MC Welcome on behalf of Berries Australia Peter McPherson, Chairman, Berries Australia PLATINUM CONFERENCE SPONSOR Andrew Bell, Mountain Blue	CONFERENCE CENTRE
8.55AM SESSION 1	The Business of Berries – A Global View	The Australian Perspective Peter McPherson, Costa Group How Berries Became The World’s Favourite Fruit via LIVE STREAM Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s of the Americas, California USA Global Perspective on Berries via LIVE STREAM Juan Ignacio Allende, Hortifrut SA, Chile	CONFERENCE CENTRE
		Q&A with Soren Bjorn & Juan Ignacio Allende facilitated by Peter McPherson	CONFERENCE CENTRE
10.15AM MORNING TEA			EXHIBITION HALL
10.45AM SESSION 2	Berries & the Supply Chain – getting to know your Customers & Consumers	Introduction to Professor David Hughes Rachel Mackenzie, Berries Australia KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Berry Popular & Berry Profitable? Prof David Hughes Berry Consumer Landscape George Margin, Hort Innovation A Retailer Perspective on Sustainability Laura McManus, Senior Human Rights Manager, Woolworths & Rachel Elliott, Head of Sustainability & Human Rights, Woolworths Sustainability Data & Global Targets – What’s on the Horizon for Horticulture? Ingrid Roth, Roth Rural	CONFERENCE CENTRE
		Q&A PANEL – Sustainability in action	CONFERENCE CENTRE
12.30PM LUNCH BREAK	SPONSORED BY OWEN PACIFIC WORKFORCE		EXHIBITION HALL

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
1.30PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS	1. Pest & Disease	Better Management of Charcoal Rot in Berry Crops in Australia Dr Scott Mattner, VSICA Has the Berry Industry met its Obligation to help Save the Planet? Prof Ian Porter, La Trobe University UVC for Fungal Control in Strawberries PRE-RECORDED: Prof Natalia Peres, University of Florida Controlling Botrytis in Strawberry using BioClay™ Dr Tony Gendall, La Trobe University	OCEAN ROOM NORTH
	2. Optimising Production	Blueberry Rust – Are we Hitting the Target? Stuart Doyle, AgVista Data Driven Growing for Optimal Irrigation & Fertigation Control Marcus van Heijst, Priva Oceania Saving Water & Nutrients through Recirculation in a Substrate Growing System Aman Lehl, Lehl Family Farm Unlocking the True Value of Organic Soil Amendments Associate Prof. David Rowlings, QUT	OCEAN ROOM SOUTH
	3. Emerging Leaders Workshop SPONSORED BY COSTA GROUP	Workshop Session Welcome & presentation on leadership Cynthia Mahoney, Cynthia Mahoney & Associates It’s not all about growing berries Simon Dornauf, Hillwood Berries Transforming Māori land and People through Horticulture Liz Te Amo, Miro Berries, NZ Advancing your Horticultural Skill Set Kara Barry, UTAS Panel Discussion & Facilitated Workshop	DOLPHIN ROOM
3.00PM AFTERNOON TEA	SPONSORED BY GROWCOM & FAIR FARMS		EXHIBITION HALL

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
3.20PM SESSION 3	Workforce Challenges and Opportunities SPONSORED BY GROWCOM & FAIR FARMS	Introduction Rachel Mackenzie, Berries Australia Certification Schemes for Ethical Sourcing Sachin Ayachit, Fair Farms The Labour Crisis in Australia: Options, Risks and Costs Steve Burdette, Approved Employers of Australia The Gen Z Uprising Blair Brown, Regional Agriculture Workforce Officer, Growcom What you need to know about piece rates – FAQs Dianna Lang, Fair Work Ombudsman	CONFERENCE CENTRE
5.00PM SESSION CLOSES

DAY 2: WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2022

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
8.30AM SESSION 1	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION	Welcome & Introduction of Keynote Speaker Rachel Mackenzie, Berries Australia	CONFERENCE CENTRE
		High Impact Meteorology via LIVE STREAM Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Illinois USA	CONFERENCE CENTRE
9.05AM SESSION 2	Export Success – top tips from experienced industry leaders	Market Access and Trade Development in the Berry Industries Jenny Van de Meeberg, Berries Australia Achieving Export Success: Table Grapes Jeff Scott, Australian Table Grape Association Export Learnings from the Vegetable Industry Michael Coote, AUSVEG Insights on Strawberry Exports and How the Markets Work Jamie Michael, Ti Produce PANEL DISCUSSION Facilitated by Jenny Van de Meeberg with Jeff Scott, Michael Coote & Jamie Michael	CONFERENCE CENTRE
10.30AM MORNING TEA	SPONSORED BY TESSARA		EXHIBITION HALL

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
10.50AM CONCURRENT SESSIONS	1. IPM & Pollination	Pollination in Protected Cropping in Berries Associate Prof Alan Dorin, Monash University A Beekeepers Perspective – Do’s & Don’ts Steve Fuller, Bee Services New IPM Technologies & an update on Chilli Thrips Jake Byrne, Biological Services Lachlan Chilman, Biological Services	OCEAN ROOM SOUTH
	2. 21st Century Challenges & Opportunities	The New Australian Horticulture Award: an Opportunity for Digital Transformation Thom Goodwin, Hillwood Berries Strawberry Picking Robots via LIVE STREAM Dr Joe McGee, Harvest CROO Robotics Cyber Security in a Farmers Market Zac McLeod, Cleared Security	OCEAN ROOM NORTH
	3. Traceability & Food Safety	Improving Food Safety of Berries SP Singh, NSW DPI Enhanced Digital Traceability & Proof of Provenance Engagement Greg Calvert, Freshchain Providing Assurance in Food Safety, from Local to Global Markets Jane Siebum, Freshcare	DOLPHIN ROOM
12.30PM LUNCH BREAK	SPONSORED BY FRESHCARE		EXHIBITION HALL

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
1.00PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS	1. Pest & Disease	Parasitoids & Biopesticides for the Biological Control of Queensland Fruit Fly Associate Prof Paul Cunningham, AgriBio Fruit Waste Management for Queensland Fruit Fly Prevention Bronwyn Koll, Agribusiness Yarra Valley DAF Research on Management of Strawberry Diseases Apollo Gomez, QDAF New Options to Control Blueberry Rust for Improved Management & Biosecurity Containment Associate Prof Kara Barry, UTAS	OCEAN ROOM SOUTH
	2. Berry Breeding	Supporting Strawberry Production through High Health Runners Fiona Constable, Agriculture Victoria DNA Informed Breeding for Better Aussie Strawberries Dr Jodi Neal, QDAF Dr Katie O’Connor, QDAF Breeding Better Berries; ‘The Mountain Blue Way’ Tom Gunther, Mountain Blue Soft Fruit Breeding at NIAB, East Malling, UK via LIVE STREAM Adam Whitehouse, NIAB	OCEAN ROOM NORTH
	3. Managing Off Farm Impacts	Sustainable Solutions for Plastic Waste in the Berry Sector Ed George, HortiCycle Regulatory Issues & Barriers for Chemical Use in Australia Kevin Bodnaruk Mapping Protected Cropping Systems in Australia Sam Turner, PCA Craig Shephard, UNE Managing Water Quality Across an Agricultural Landscape: Techniques to Use & When to Use Them Dr Mark Bayley	DOLPHIN ROOM
2.30PM AFTERNOON TEA			EXHIBITION HALL

	STREAM	SESSION INFORMATION	LOCATION
3.00PM SESSION 3	Biosecurity Matters: Varroa Mite	Effects of Varroa on Bees and Horticultural Industries Dr Cooper Schouten, Southern Cross University Varroa Mite: Q&A Dr Cooper Shouten, Southern Cross University Steve Fuller, Bee Services
	The Future of Berries	Knowing What You Are Going to Grow, Made Easy With AI Fiona Turner, Bitwise Agronomy Are We Doing Enough to Meet Technology Half Way Jesse Reader, Costa Group	CONFERENCE CENTRE
5.00PM CONFERENCE CLOSE		Keeping Berries Australia Relevant to you – a Plan for the Future Rachel Mackenzie, Berries Australia	CONFERENCE CENTRE