Future Horticulture Forum

Wednesday 26 February 2025
9:30am – 3:00pm
| Pacific Bay Resort

View program

Western Sydney University, in collaboration with For Food Sake, invites you to the Future Horticulture Forum – an exciting event designed to showcase the latest research and innovation shaping the future of Australia’s horticultural and farming sectors.

This forum brings together leading academics, industry innovators, and key stakeholders to explore transformative advancements in the horticultural industry. Attendees will gain valuable insights into cutting-edge topics, including:

  • Smart glass technology for enhanced crop environments
  • Innovations in crop monitoring and microbiomes
  • Automation and precision mapping systems redefining farming practices
  • Strategies for a sustainable and efficient future in horticulture

The program will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with experts and peers. Additionally, project posters will be displayed throughout the day, offering a closer look at pioneering research and its real-world applications.

Why attend?

This forum is an invaluable opportunity to stay informed about emerging trends, connect with industry leaders, and discover solutions to advance sustainability and productivity in horticulture.

Admission Details:

Admission to the forum is included with your For Food Sake tickets or can be purchased separately for a low fee for day-only access.

We look forward to welcoming growers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to this impactful event.

For further details and registration information, stay tuned to our upcoming announcements.

Program

Wednesday 26 February 2025

9:30 am

Welcome

Dr James Krahe, CEO, FFS

Dist. Prof. David Tissue, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, WSU | Program 2 Lead, FFS

9:40 am

Smart glass

Dr Sachin Chavan, WSU

Hasan Uz Zaman Raihan (PhD student), WSU

Md Hasan Sofiur Rahman (PhD student), WSU

Baohua Jia, RMIT

Frank Yao, Innofocus Photonics Technology

Chris Wilkins, LLEAF

Steve Kim, GreenPlus

10:30 am

Morning tea / Networking

11:00 am

Environment control

Dr Onoriode Coast, UNE

Amrutha Vijayakumar, WSU

Joy Ojo (PhD student), WSU

Pratima Rana Shahi (PhD student), UNE

11:25 am

Crop monitoring

Prof. Oula Ghannoum, WSU

Kai Zhao (PhD student), WSU

Varna Murali (PhD student), WSU

Mark Cardamis (PhD student), UNSW

11:50 am

Microbiomes

Dr Kay Howard, Murdoch University

Dr Kim Tilbrook, Ecogrowth

Sumitra Saha (PhD student), Murdoch University

David Doepel, Murdoch University

12:30 pm

Mapping systems

Craig Shephard, AARSC at UNE

Leoni Kojetin, Aust Macadamias

Dr Rajendra Shilpakar, Greater Sydney Local Land Services

1:00 pm

Lunch / Networking

2:00 pm

Automation

Wayne Austin, AusFR

2:10 pm

Future horticulture (Panel)

Dr James Krahe (Chair), FFS

Prof. Zhonghua Chen, WSU

Craig Shephard, UNE

Dr Onoriode Coast, UNE

Dist. Prof. David Tissue, WSU