Perth to host AgriFutures' evokeAG. event in 2024

Following a sellout 2023 event in Adelaide, evokeAG. organiser AgriFutures Australia partnered with the Western Australian Government to announce that the event will be held in Perth in 2024.

AgriFutures evokeAG. 2024 will take place on 20–21 February at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Since 2019, through a two-day event and an online community, AgriFutures Australia has brought together the agrifood tech ecosystem to connect and facilitate collaboration between farmers, innovators, investors, researchers, corporates and government.

John Harvey, AgriFutures Managing Director, said the decision to move the event to Perth speaks to the evolution of the event and reflects on the growth of the agrifood tech community.

The ecosystem has become a mainstream area of interest for investors, reaching approximately US$90 million in 2019 for Australian agrifood tech innovation. At evokeAG. 2023, AgFunder announced that in 2022 that figure had risen to US$248 million.

More startups have emerged in the space because of new talent and increased resources.

“We’re excited to now be in a position to host evokeAG. in Perth in February 2024. There are a number of reasons why the West Coast will make a great host state — the proximity to South East Asia, its innovative farmers, a diverse range of industries, strong exporting experience and an established and vibrant agrifood tech innovation community. These are all attributes that will be critical in supporting us to deliver a world-class international event for our domestic and international audiences,” Harvey said.

The Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food, Forestry, Small Business, the Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC, said driving innovation and increasing adoption of technology across the agrifood supply chain was a key priority for the Western Australian Government.

The state’s connection with Asia and its universities means it is well placed to become a hub for agrifood innovation and investment, according to Jarvis.

“We look forward to evokeAG. 2024 bringing delegates together from around the world and across Australia, to connect and collaborate for the future of our food and farming systems,” she said.

Event details including speakers, start-up and investment programs, networking opportunities and sideline activities will be released in the coming months. Tickets are expected to go on sale in mid-2023.

Image caption: (Left to right) Liam O’Connell, Executive Director, Agribusiness, Food & Trade, Industry and Economic Development, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; Dr Bill Ryan, Director, AgriFutures Australia; The Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC, Minister for Agriculture and Food, Forestry, and Small Business and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; and Nick Stamatiou, CEO and Co-Founder, Whole Green Foods.