Northern Australia Food Futures Conference

The award winning Northern Australia Food Futures Conference is on from 2-4 July 2018 in Darwin.

This is a great opportunity to find out what is happening on the ground across the north in developing northern agriculture, in the Gulf and Cape of Queensland, the Ord and West Kimberley of WA, and the NT.

The Northern Australia Food Futures Conference will focus on how public and private sectors can develop agriculture in the north operating:

43% of Australia’s land mass
60% of Australia’s available irrigation water
Australia’s largest Indigenous communities
1.4 million ha of arable soils

The 2018 Conference brings again a down to earth view, led by the NT Farmers Association, and by farmers who have succeeded in the north. The program of the 2018 conference has changed significantly and will include various workshops, farm visits within NT as well as traditional plenary sessions and social program.

The 2016 conference received a national award for the Association or Government Meeting of the Year granted by Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) in May 2017.

The 2018 Northern Australia Food Futures Conference will include:

45 speakers from across Australia
Including 6 Ministers from NT, WA, Qld, and federal cabinet
250 participants with over 50% attendees from private sector
Strong financial support from key public sectors and private organisations
Shared experience by successful farmers from all three northern state - WA, NT and Qld
Indigenous and environmental program components

Testimonials

‘’The Food Futures 2014 was an excellent conference run by NT Farmers. As a farmer, and the President of the National Farmers’ Federation, I was impressed with the information provided at the conference about developing agriculture in northern Australia, and would encourage as many people as possible to take an interest and participate in the next conference. I am certainly looking forward to participating in Food Futures 2016.”

Brent Finlay President NFF

“I consider the Food Futures Conference to have been one of the best-organised events in horticulture and agriculture in Australia. High caliber speakers and participants, especially from the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia all contributed to an exciting and informative program. This event in 2016 is not to be missed; attendees will find sessions informative and networking to be extremely worthwhile.”

Richard J Mulcahy CEO AUSVEG Limited

“ My Department was proud to be a sponsor of Northern Australia Food Futures 2014. We will be supporting Food Futures 2016. The event's success comes from bringing together everyone involved with northern agriculture – politicians, government agencies, farmers and agribusiness, from NT, WA, Queensland and Nationally."

Alister Trier CEO NT Department Primary Industry and Fisheries

“I was pleased to be involved with Food Futures 2014. It was a great opportunity to better understand what others across the north were doing to grow the food industry sector. The Kimberley region is big part of the potential of the north and we used the Conference to share, how we were approaching development there. "

Peter Stubbs Director Major Projects, Department of Regional Development Kununurra

“Vanderfield sponsored Food Futures 2014 – a great event. We are committed to sponsoring Food Futures 2016. See you there."

Aaron Heath, General Manager, Vanderfield - Darwin, Katherine, Kununurra

“Food Futures 2014 was one of the most refreshing conferences I have ever attended. The format, content and organisation were excellent, to the extent that Opus is proud to sponsor Food Futures 2016."

Dr Peter Gehrke, Environmental Technical Principal, Opus International Consultants – providing water solutions in northern Australia.


“ Food Futures 2014 was an inspiring conference, opening my mind to the breadth of opportunities for agricultural development across Northern Australia as well as to the developing markets to our North.   I’ve also participated in Food Futures Regional Roadshows in 2015 in Hughenden, Katherine and Douglas Daly NT. I can highly recommend attending Food Futures Conference 2016 in Darwin"

Gareth Jones, Manager Regional Agribusiness Development Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

“ NT farmers did a great job of Food Futures Conference 2014. I can highly recommend the Food Futures Conference 2016 in Darwin for those interested in developing agriculture in northern Australia"

David Anthony, Chairman, Auscott

“ Food Futures 2014 was a great opportunity to hear what’s happening across the north in agriculture. It was great to hear from farmers who have succeeded in the north. A very well run conference"

Fritz Bolton Ord farmer and Chairman OrdCo.

“ Food Futures 2014 was one of the best conferences I’ve attended. The format was innovative, with lots of good ideas. There was an excellent mix of farmers, politicians and government on the stage. "

Gavin Scurr Managing Director Pinata Farms

“Food Futures 2014 was a great event, run by farmers in the NT, but with a real northern perspective. Flinders Shire also hosted the Food Futures Regional roadshow in Hughenden. Its great to be part of a whole of the north approach, not just plugging away by ourselves. We now have the power of connections across the north. I’m looking forward to Food Futures 2016"

Sean O’Neill, Councilor, Flinders Shire, Hughenden

" It was great to participate in Food Futures 2014. PCA have also contributed to Food Futures Regional Roadshows in 2015 in Katherine and Douglas Daly. A great initiative by NT Farmers"

John Howard, CEO Peanut Company Australia

“The Food Futures conference had one of the most effective and engaging formats I have attended. I look forward to being at the 2016 conference.”

David Hanlon, The Right Mind specialists in northern development.

PAST EVENTS

Conference Information 2014

Conference Information 2016