Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host the 2035 Oceania Summit, an agri-food-tech industry event, from 10-11 October 2022 at Aotea Centre. Delegates from multiple continents will collaborate on how agritech can support farmers and growers to reduce emissions to net zero and build more resilient growing systems. Summit convenor Peter Wren-Hilton elaborated on the summit’s driving force, saying: “By bringing together the region’s scientific and research community, agritech companies, farmers and growers, investors and policymakers, the 2035 Oceania Summit has been designed to showcase local solutions for global climate impact.” More than 40 national and international speakers are to attend, alongside breakout panels, an exhibition demonstrating the region’s research, a start-up hub, and networking opportunities. On the Summit’s international reach, Wren-Hilton, founder of global agritech consultancy Wharf42 and founding director of Agritech New Zealand, said: “The Summit is part of a longer-term platform to increase research and commercialisation collaboration in agri-food-tech across the Oceania region and wider global community.”
Discussing the issues
Announced speakers currently include professor Andrew Campbell, chair of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and CEO of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and Elizabeth Fastiggi – Amazon’s worldwide director of Agriculture. The pair will be focusing on the role of digital technologies in the sector. Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross is set to lead a delegation that will identify New Zealand agrifood technology that can address challenges Californian growers face – such as prolonged drought. The Summit will also focus on food security challenges created by climate change in the Pacific Islands. An announced VIP roundtable will address this current regional issue, attended by:
- New Zealand and Australia’s respective government departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation
- The Small Island Developing States
- The International Fund for Agricultural Development
- The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research
- Other non-government organisations
To develop the summit’s focus on sustainable farming, a Festival of Food will see chef Peter Gordon design the event’s delegate menu. In line with its green goals, Gordon will be prioritising fresh produce that has a zero-carbon footprint. The start-up hub also has a content programme planned that will address topics including agritech, livestock breeding, and farming developments. Pam Ford, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited director of investment and industry, commented: “As the world looks for ways to transform global food systems to address climate change and food insecurity, fostering connections such as those at Oceania 2035 is vital.”
