International Farm2Fork Summit to return to Australia in 2023

The Rabobank Farm2Fork Summit will be held in Australia on 23 March 2023. It is expected to bring together over 1600 farmers, food and agribusiness corporates and agtech startups, along with agriculture, science and technology researchers and innovators.

The one day, invitation-only event will celebrate leadership and innovation in agriculture and agribusiness, featuring international and local speakers who will examine new ideas, innovations and solutions for the vitality and sustainability of the food and agri sector.

Berry Marttin, Rabobank Group executive board member, said this is the first major opportunity for such a diverse range of agri sector participants to convene since the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said the summit would examine some of the challenges and opportunities for agriculture and food production in the transition to sustainable food systems.

“Sustainable food systems are essential for building resilience against future shocks, improving global health and nutrition, achieving net zero carbon emissions, protecting nature and diversity, empowering communities and building inclusive and resilient economies,” Marttin said.

According to Marttin, the summit is part of Rabobank’s commitment to take a leadership role in facilitating a sustainable future for the world’s food and agribusiness production and supply.

Topics to be explored at the event include:

• how AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics, agtech and data will influence the future of agriculture,
• circular economies, supply chain trends and the consumer ‘farm to fork’ story,
• the top 10 macroeconomic themes for agriculture in the 2020s and
• a range of innovation-in-practice case studies.

Presenters will include former Unilever global CEO Paul Polman, Rabobank global chairman Stefaan Decraene, Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin, US dairy producer Hans Nederend Jr, John Deere managing director Australia/New Zealand Luke Chandler, CSIRO Agriculture and Food deputy director Professor Michelle Colgrave, 2022 Young Farmer of the Year Brad Egan, New Zealand lamb producer Lucy Macdonald and Sundown Pastoral Company/Good Earth Cotton’s Danielle and David Statham.

The summit will host an ‘Innovation Park’ featuring startups in robotics, irrigation, biosecurity and traceability from around the world. Local and sustainable produce will also be showcased at the event.

The program will also include the presentation of the 2023 Rabobank Leadership Awards, recognising leadership in Australia and New Zealand’s food, beverage and agribusiness industries. The awards will feature two key business leadership accolades — the Rabobank Leadership Award honouring an accomplished senior sector leader and the Rabobank Emerging Leader Award recognising outstanding up-and-coming leadership.

The awards will also feature an additional category, the Rabobank Community Leadership Awards, recognising an outstanding initiative which provides tangible, meaningful benefits to the rural community. These will be awarded to both an Australian and New Zealand initiative.