AgVenture Expo: where innovation grows curiosity

 

The Vic Hub’s Regional Soil Coordinator, Dr Peter Fisher, is running soil workshops where students will get their hands dirty and learn more about the importance of soil health.

 

A new event highlighting innovation, technology, education and careers in horticulture and agriculture will bring together industry, schools and community at the SuniTAFE SMART Farm on 11 June.

Designed to promote opportunities for the next generation in food production, SuniTAFE’s AgVenture Expo is run in partnership with the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (MRIC) and Northern Mallee Learning and Employment Network.

SuniTAFE SMART Farm senior manager Matt Wilson said industry groups representing agronomy, ag-tech, irrigation technologies, training, processing, heavy auto, industrial hearing tests, machinery, laboratory and analytics were taking part.

“The expo is an opportunity for industry to … inspire future leaders within their specific fields,” Matt said.

“The horticulture industry in Sunraysia alone generates close to $2 billion in annual revenue, and the region forms part of a vital food bowl, which includes the Riverina region of New South Wales and Riverland region of South Australia.

“Horticulture and agriculture are facing a significant skills shortage, making events like this especially important in promoting career pathways and what the industry has to offer.”

 

Vic Hub Soil Coordinator running workshops

 

MRIC will also be an exhibitor at the expo in its role as the North-West Irrigated Horticulture Node of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Vic Hub).

The Vic Hub’s Regional Soil Coordinator, Dr Peter Fisher, will join MRIC and run activities with the students.

MRIC CEO Rebecca Wells said, “We want to help broaden students’ experience. In Peter’s soil workshops, the students will literally be getting their hands dirty and he’ll get them thinking about the importance of soil health.

“The expo will directly connect students to all the exciting career paths horticulture and agriculture offer. I don’t think students fully understand the diversity of the opportunities available.”

Rebecca said the expo was also a chance to engage curious minds about the future of horticulture and agriculture and how we tackle things like drought.

“We need to take these opportunities to create a collaborative learning space,” she said.

“What problems do the students want to solve? How does that relate to the challenges of farmers and growers in situations like drought?

“We want to foster the minds of the next generation so they can use their smarts to help solve these issues as well as the problems we don’t even know about yet.”

Matt said up to 130 students were expected to attend as well as the wider community.

“Young people will be able to speak directly with industry professionals about job roles and career pathways, hear from guest presenters and participate in activities,” he said.

“Community can also find out about the latest technological advancements within agriculture and horticulture.

“These industries are fast paced and continually changing to meet global demand, so this is a good opportunity to keep up to date with these changes, which may aid with their own operations.”