Queensland to host major agrifood tech and innovation event

Published Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities
The Honourable Mark Furner

  • evokeAG. to draw up to 2000 delegates to Brisbane in 2025
  • AgTech front and centre for future of food production
  • Queensland centre stage as state builds on $24 billion industry

Queensland’s credentials as Australia’s emerging AgTech innovation capital has received a major boost with Brisbane announced as the home of the AgriFutures evokeAG. global innovation event in 2025.

Brisbane was announced as next year’s host city as a group of Queensland innovators and industry leaders joined more than 1800 delegates from across the Asia Pacific attending this year’s event in Perth.

evokeAG. connects the global agrifood innovation community of investors, entrepreneurs, AgTech service providers and agribusiness professionals by providing a digital platform and a premier agrifood tech event where farmers share their experiences, startups pitch their potential, scientists showcase their discoveries, global business leaders share their insights and industry experts debate their opinions.

evokeAG. is powered by AgriFutures Australia and in 2025 will be supported by the Commonwealth Government, Platinum Partner Elders, the State Government and Brisbane Economic Development Agency.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“Since 2015 we have helped Queensland’s agricultural industry grow from $17.2 billion to an estimated $24 billion in value, supporting hundreds of thousands of good jobs for Queenslanders.

“AgTech is a strong part of the sustainable future of agriculture, solving problems and growing businesses.

“Bringing this event to Queensland reinforces the Queensland Government’s commitment to AgTech and adoption. 

The AgTech Roadmap we completed with industry last year and our investments in AgTech through the Gatton Smart Farm and the Smart Cropping Centre in Emerald show we are backing our producers with real investments.

” I have no doubt Queensland’s agriculture sector will make the most of this event and ensure next year’s evokeAG. held in Brisbane will be the best yet.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation, Leanne Linard:

“Through Advance Queensland, the Queensland Government has been investing in AgTech in the state.

“Our Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships program supports critical research and development and through the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas program we are helping AgTech startups commercialise their innovations.

“I am delighted to welcome the upcoming evokeAG. innovation event right here in Queensland so that we can showcase our game-changing AgTech advancements on a global scale.”

Quotes attributable to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:

“As a global leader in food innovation and technology, Brisbane is the perfect place to host AgriFutures evokeAG event in 2025” Cr Schrinner said.

“The event attracts thousands of delegates each year and will inject millions into Brisbane’s local economy.

“Brisbane creates an unparalleled delegate experience for guests. The combination of our accessible and connected precincts, transport infrastructure, outstanding venues, accommodation and dining options will leave attendees with a lasting impression of Brisbane as a premier business events destination.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Julia Spicer:

Queensland agriculture has an innovative culture – our farmers have instinctively turned to innovation to solve some of the big faming challenges in Australia, including dealing with drought, floods, pests, soil quality, remote locations, livestock monitoring, and transport and logistics,” Ms Spicer said.

“This in turn is driving a strong homegrown AgTech sector – technologies and innovations developed for farming in some of the toughest conditions in the world.

As someone who works closely with many regional communities to drive change and enhance economic opportunities in agriculture, I know that hosting evokeAG. in Brisbane next year is an opportunity to showcase the world-class AgTech that we create and harness across Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to AgriFutures Managing Director John Harvey:

evokeAG. began as an opportunity to showcase the incredible agrifood tech innovation happening here in Australia, to hear from the rest of the world and to drive innovation in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Harvey said.  

“We look forward to hosting evokeAG. 2025 in Brisbane, in collaboration with Host City Partner Brisbane Economic Development Agency and Host State Partner the Government of Queensland, and Platinum Partner Elders.

ENDS