AgriFutures On Air

Consumers and regulators globally are calling for more biologicals and less chemicals. In contrast, producers are calling for new crop inputs which meet their mounting pest and disease challenges. So how do they meet in the middle? Dr Adrian Percy and Peter Wren-Hilton have long pondered this quandary and many in between. Luckily for us, they made time to share with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy at the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 event some fascinating insights they’ve made along the way.

This is the second episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.

AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.

This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.

Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 

Global food production is facing bold and urgent questions around it’s future and no-one is more aware than Jo Sheppard, the CEO of the Queensland Farmers Federation and Anthony Lee- the CEO and director of Australian Country Choice, one of the world’s largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain organisations. 

In the episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy delves into some of the bigger challenges facing the ag sector with this dynamic and big thinking pair. 

This is the first episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.

AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe. 

This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain. 

Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅

Hemp is a plant so versatile that it has the ability to feed, clothe, and house us. The rediscovery of industrial hemp and new investment in research and development is unlocking amazing opportunities as the world grapples with food security, waste and climate change.

In this episode explore the myriad of potential hemp provides and hear from industry leaders who are driving the industry forward. 

SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the final episode, dropping Friday, 4th April.

Australian hazelnut growers, processors and researchers are pulling together to show the world the enormous potential to replace imported products with fresh, nutritious, high-quality Australian nuts. In this episode we put the product to the test and discover how industry pioneers and problem solvers are cracking the code on this exciting emerging industry. 

SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday, 21 March.

The average Australian produces more than half a tonne of household waste each year. We recycle what we can and the rest goes to the tip… but what if we could take our food waste and not just recycle it, but transform it into an alternate, high quality protein source that’s packed with health benefits? It’s happening. And there’s a buzz about it. In Australia, a small group of innovators are putting their money where their mouth is to show how insects might be the answer to the world’s increasing demand for protein. What is the palatable and profitable use for these incredible critters?

Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 7 March.

It’s an old-world luxury ingredient that the French, Italians and Spanish have included on their menus for hundreds of years. But Australia’s growing black perigord truffle industry is making a name for itself as a global powerhouse of production and is the fourth largest producer globally. Continued success is built upon Australia’s reputation as a supplier of premium quality truffles and access into international markets, including during the off-season to Europe’s truffle growing season.

SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.

Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 21 February.

Australians love their coffee. As a nation we consume about 130 million kilograms each year. But only a tiny amount - less than 1% is actually grown here in Australia.

Why is this the case and what opportunities exist for the industry to expand? What research is being done to increase Australian coffee production and position it as a clean, green premium product that can pass the taste tests of our coffee-obsessed local consumers?

SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.

Australia’s agriculture sector has a $100 billion goal. But what role will new and emerging industries play in reaching that target? Can industries like coffee, truffle and insects realise their full potential and help make it happen?
 
Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.

Make sure you don’t miss the series, with the first episode dropping Friday, 24 January 2025.

Could Australia’s greatest untapped resource be its own backyard? 

In this episode, Matthew Peacock, Head of Agribusiness and Sustainability at Densu PR speaks to Jane Knight, Senior Manager Rural Futures - AgriFutures Australia, Adrian Spencer, CEO at Sampano and Dr. Louise Brown, CEO and Founder of HydGene Renewables as they unveil the untapped potential of regional manufacturing in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.

Together, they explore the incredible opportunities in pulse processing, algae innovation, biomass transformation, green ammonia, and biofuels. Discover how Australia’s 12,000 species of algae could fuel local industries, and learn how green hydrogen from biomass waste is paving the way for sustainable ammonia production.

Listen as our guests discuss the critical role of research, technology adoption, and workforce development in driving rural resilience and transforming regional economies.

Tune in to hear how regional manufacturing can reshape our industries and secure a brighter, greener future!

Further Resources

Manufacturing agriculture’s future: Opportunities and challenges in developing regional manufacturing for the Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector

In this report, we undertake the crucial task of identifying the on-farm inputs and outputs best suited for regional manufacturing, recognising the potential for substantial impact and the economic, social and environmental impacts on regional communities, accompanied by a high-level supply chain analysis.

In this episode, we explore a pivotal research project that examines the current capacity and future needs of agricultural extension practitioners in Australia.

Hosted by a panel of experts—John James, Jeff Coutts, and Denise Bewsell—this episode shares valuable insights into the critical role of extension in supporting farmers and driving innovation.

Listen to the John, Jeff and Denise discuss the definition and importance of agricultural extension, challenges like fragmentation and resource scarcity and research insights from surveys, interviews, and Bayesian modelling.

This episode highlights the need for a strategic and long-term approach to strengthen Australia's agricultural extension system to enable adoption on farm, in production systems and across communities.

Further Resources

Australian extension capacity and capability A map and a gap analysis
Undertaken in partnership with the broader RDC network, this report surveyed 400 current extension people, mapping their capacity (time and resources) alongside their capability (skills, expertise and knowledge).

This work aims to ensure there is adequate extension capacity and capability available to support Australian agriculture into the future.