Conference program

Sustainable Field Crops

This theme invites symposia that will cover all aspects of tropical and sub-tropical field crop improvement with a focus on productivity, sustainability and product quality for target markets and consumers  This may include topics such as:

• Development and delivery of advanced germplasm and crop adaptation studies including advances in crop physiology and modelling; and genotype to phenotype modelling
• Crops and climate adaptation
• Pest and disease management
• Crop agronomy, crop nutrition, soil health, weed management
• New technologies such as gene editing and  information technologies and
• Decision making tools on crop production  Sustainable intensification of agriculture  – including pathways to achieve food/nutrition security and reduced poverty
• Farming systems research, sustainable development goals, research for development, and supply chain and market access issues.
• Quantifying impacts and adaptation to climate variability and change; input and energy use and life cycle analyses.

Horticulture Innovation

This theme invites a series of symposia on initiatives and new technologies to deliver improved market acceptability and productivity for tropical and sub-tropical horticultural crops.  This may include:

• Breeding programs that advance commercial varieties
• Delivery of new genetic solutions
• Climate adaptation
• Disease management
• Advances in mechanisation and management systems.

Animals and environment

This theme is inclusive of all tropical and sub-tropical animal science, and its interaction with the environment and production systems, including teaching, consultancy and community-based service programs. Symposia which address specific research of one to a multitude of industries, including the meat and livestock, poultry, pork and sheep, would be applicable. Symposia are invited on topics including:

• Advances in animal science promoting better animal health and welfare, efficient nutrition, genetic improvement, consumer satisfaction, and socially responsible production systems. Suggested topics may include:
• Pest and disease control through improved detection, monitoring and vaccine technologies
• Animal welfare and ethics including pain mitigation and animal husbandry practices
• Objective measurements of stress
• Genotype by environmental interactions
• Advances in genetics, breeding and reproduction
• Innovations on rumen efficiency, rumen microbiome, and maternal nutrition
• Feedlot nutrition
• Advances in pasture management
• Management innovations for sound animal productivity.

From breeding to bread and butter

This theme focuses on the whole food value-chain – from breeding through to our daily bread and butter. This theme encourages symposia that showcase the complete value chain, from breeding, production, processing to final food quality across a range of food types relevant to the tropics and sub-tropics. This can be from local (domestics systems) to global food production.  Symposia topics may focus on:

• Specific aspects of how plant or animal breeders develop crops or animals respectively, for both production gain but maintaining final quality targets
• Supplementation and bio-fortification of crops
• Nutrition and health
• Food safety
• Molecular basis for food quality, food processing and preservation
• Breeding
• Reducing wastage.

A showcase of innovation and investment in Queensland agriculture

The AgFutures theme, hosted by the Queensland Government, focuses on showcasing agri-technology and investment in in Queensland. Queensland producers have a worldwide reputation for producing high quality, clean and green produce in harsh environments in tropical and sub-tropical climates and the AgFutures theme showcases the state’s latest technology and innovations in digital and data platforms, robotics, satellites and biotechnologies. Theme topics include industry-wide investment required for innovations, emerging trends, business opportunities and capital models from farm gate to agribusiness, agri-tech, processing and research. This theme is recommended for representatives from the agriculture and food sectors, including producers, researchers, policy makers, and agribusiness.