Over 200 young grain industry participants participated in GrainGrowers’ Innovation Generation 2024 conference held on 23 – 25 July on the Gold Coast.
The event, now in its seventeenth year, featured several educational sessions with thought leaders and industry experts, under the theme "Sowing for Tomorrow."
The annual event seeks to be a market-leading professional development experience which combines a wide variety of educational topics, addressed through a mix of presentation and panel discussion, with interactive social and networking opportunities.
Delegates were challenged to consider a range of issues including: Exploring the future of Ag; Agriculture’s role in addressing global climate challenges; Workplace Safety; Succession and farm transition planning; The application of technology and advancing agriculture through digital transformation; Supply chains of the future; and Women and diversity in agriculture.
The event hosted a great debate on the topic: Sustainable Development and ESG are the same thing and a series of panel discussions Exploring Agriculture’s Role in Addressing Global Climate Challenges; Advancing Agriculture though digital transformation and considering whether regional Australia is a Hidden Gem or a Diamond in the Rough?
Breakout sessions were held to discuss Exploring Careers in Ag and Overcoming barriers to leadership as a young person in the grains industry. An interactive ‘Dragon’s Den’ session encouraged delegates to apply innovation to pitch a new product development.
Some key learnings from Innovation Generation included the following:
- With emerging challenges from climate change to changing consumer behaviour, keynote speaker and Futurist Melissa Clarke-Reynolds discussed international trends for delegates to consider where opportunities for premiums are emerging in industry including around attributes like organic and certified regenerative.
- To help young industry participants at both a personal and professional level, Nutrien Head of Communications Lucy Brennan reinforced the importance of developing a personal brand to enhance career aspirations.
- The much-discussed issue of climate challenges highlighted opportunities for the adoption of sustainable innovative practices, with Loam co-founder Guy Webb suggesting that in the carbon economy growers needed to see and consider available options.
- A compelling message was delivered by farm safety advocate and rugby league legend Shane Webcke who pointed out the danger of complacency and urged delegates to make the decision each day to be safe and identify risks when working. His hard-hitting lesson included a statement that “your on-farm safety decisions have nothing to do with you, but all about the people who play the price if you get it wrong.”
- A lively discussion around succession and farm transition planning highlighted the importance of starting the honest conversation about the next steps as early as possible, with one panel member, James Russell from Rutherglen in Victoria, stating that having a seat at the discussion was incredibly valuable.
- In the area of ag technology, a number of discussions were held covering digital transformation, the role of big data, AI and the barriers to adoption. While some suggested emerging technology was amazing South Australian grower and Australian Grain Leaders Program alumni James Venning cautioned that adoption of technology required date driven decisions and not emotional ones.
- Exploring the keys to improving the chances of success for Australian grain farm businesses on the journey to 2030 was presented by Dr Cheryl Kalisch Gordon from Rabobank. The message that understanding the landscape is a key for success was a salient point for all grain growers in developing the business over the longer term.
- The realities of working and living in regional Australia made for an interesting panel discussion with GrainGrowers National Policy Group member, Tracy Lefroy, suggesting that there was the potential to have more imagination and raise the vision for what careers look like in the regions. An interesting thought that emerged from the panel was the potential to apply the approach of FIFO to the farming business.
- With supply chains posing an ongoing challenge, emerging innovation and opportunities were covered by Pure Grain Network CEO Stuart Tighe. Developing a way forward that allows growers to gain increased control and efficiency will provide opportunities for growth and development in the supply chains of the future.
- Barriers to leadership for young industry participants were considered in a panel discussion led by participants in GrainGrowers’ Australian Grain Leaders Program. The discussion provided real world advice from participants with a key focus on “imposter syndrome” and importantly some strategies on how to overcome this issue.
CEO Shona Gawel said Innovation Generation had again highlighted the commitment of young industry participants.
“From a GrainGrowers perspective it was extremely pleasing to see and hear young people in the room discussing the key issues that impact the wider grains industry.”
“The enthusiasm and drive to help increase productivity and profitability is a measure of assurance that the future of the industry is in good hands,” Ms Gawel said.
GrainGrowers thanked its sponsors for their involvement in making the 2024 event such a success: Platinum Partner – Nutrien Ag Solutions; Official Conference Dinner Partner – GRDC; Trivia Night Partner – John Deere; Major Financial Partner – Rabobank; Gold Partners – Loam and Farmers2Founders; Silver Partners – HARDI and Vittera; and Bronze Partners – RuralBiz Training and INCYT.
A full conference program is available on the Innovation Generation website.
The 2025 Innovation Generation event will be held in Western Australia.