The seminar, a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund, ran in conjunction with Hort Connections 2018, and featured a range of speakers sharing their knowledge on how to successfully develop or build international relationships and export capabilities.
Attendees were shown practical ways to take advantage of booming overseas markets, enabling them to boost their individual businesses and subsequently generate positive outcomes for the Australian vegetable industry on the whole.
Opening the seminar was agribusiness expert Dr David McKinna, who discussed the Vegetable Industry Export Strategy and how working with the agriculture industry for over 30 years has given him a thorough understanding of the export market.
David McKinna speaking at Australian Vegetable Export Seminar
Dr McKinna was joined by a host of other speakers, who brought their expertise on a range of topics to the stage and gave attendees the chance to gain insight on all areas of the vegetable export sector. These speakers included Chair of the Export Council of Australia Dianne Tipping, Hort Innovation Trade Manager Jenny Van de Meeberg and a grower panel of vegetable exporters who have found success in overseas markets.
Dianne Tipping addressing delegates at Australian Vegetable Export Seminar
“Events such as the Australian Vegetable Export Seminar enable growers to hear first-hand from those who have had success exporting their produce, and it helps them to understand the importance and intricacies of developing and maintaining international trade relationships.
“The Australian vegetable industry is currently in the middle of the biggest trade push in its history, so there has never been a more crucial time for growers to learn more about the export process.
“Australia is known globally for producing fresh, safe and high-quality vegetables. Developing export capabilities is crucial for the future success of the Australian vegetable industry, and the Export Seminar is one of the many ways that the industry is supporting growers to realise their full potential in this space.”