That's a wrap for Hort Connections 2023!

Hort Connections 2023 was held in Adelaide last week, the biggest one yet with over 3,000 attendees.

The Melons Australia team attended, along with several Melon growers. Over the 3 days, there were many industry meetings, some Melon farm visits, Adelaide fruit and vegetable market visits, and a chance to meet with suppliers and industry.

The theme of the conference this year was “Knowledge for Growth,” with the goal to equip the industry with the necessary expertise to leverage the next generation of research, technology, and business innovation, thereby enhancing the production and value of the horticulture sector. A number of presentations were given across the 2 days on various areas of interest including, AI for crop analysis, diversity and inclusion in horticulture, sustainability, farmer-driven R&D, exports, quality, and so much more.

During the event Johnathon Davey our Exec Officer was given the chance to present on the Melon Traceability project, where seamless transfer of live traceability data from whole watermelons to cut melon product in store for enhanced food safety and visibility was successfully achieved. This opportunity was thanks to being chosen as a finalist for the 2023 Horticulture Awards for Excellence - UPL Tech Innovation Award. The Awards for Excellence acknowledge and recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and companies to the horticulture industry.

Johnathon said of the nomination, “It was an honour for Melons Australia to be nominated and selected as a finalist in the UPL Tech Innovation Award for 2023. Our partnerships with many bodies in presenting the seamless transfer of traceability data from whole watermelons to cut product in store, supporting enhanced visibility and food safety through the entire supply chain was truly remarkable. We could not have achieved such success without the support of NSW DPI, Woolworths, Select Melons Australia (SMA) Marketing, FreshChain and funding from the Federal Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. This is something the entire Horticulture industry is celebrating and promoting due to the significant success.”

We look forward to another year of innovation within the industry before Hort Connections 2024.