Unearthing Brisbane's agricultural strengths - Why Queensland's capital is leading the nation in agribusiness

Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland in Australia, is a thriving multicultural city of 2.7m people. It boasts an innovation-led economy and an enviable outdoor lifestyle, and is also a showcase of big investment, robust industries and new developments. Brisbane’s position as a global city and its economic momentum is highlighted by its appointment as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the city preparing to be the super-host destination of the largest sporting event held anywhere in the world. Acknowledged as a global scientific hub, Brisbane’s range of industry sectors also include agriculture and food manufacturing, healthcare, resources and technology.  This sector expertise has attracted significant business events to the compact walkable city, enhanced by purpose-built convention centres, an array of meeting venues, international hotels and an enviable sub-tropical climate promoting a relaxed outdoor lifestyle. Agribusiness expertise attracts major events to Brisbane Brisbane is home to some of the world’s brightest agricultural and scientific minds and institutions. These include the University of Queensland which is at the forefront of agricultural research. Another key organisation headquartered in Brisbane is AgTrade, a global livestock, genetics and food security group, whilst start-ups such as Agbot, MaxSil and Qponics are delivering innovative agriculture technology and soil nutrient solutions. Eighty per cent of Queensland land is used for agricultural production. Amongst the various agribusiness specialisations, beef cattle represent Queensland’s largest agricultural export, valued at AUD$7.1b and making up 49% of Australia’s national herd. Brisbane’s Lockyer Valley, just over an hour from the city, is renowned as ‘Australia’s Salad Bowl’, with the Lockyer Valley Regional Development Framework 2013-2023 noting the intensively-cultivated region as one of the “top ten most fertile farming areas in the world”.  It encompasses approximately 2200 square kilometres and grows the most diverse range of commercial fruit and vegetables of any area in Australia. Beef industry recognises the Brisbane advantage Brisbane is home to the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), a not-for-profit member-based body founded in 1875 and headquartered at the iconic Brisbane Showgrounds, an events and lifestyle precinct approximately 1.5km from the city centre. The Showgrounds are the location of the state-of-the-art Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC), a boutique convention centre facility with capacity for over 3000 delegates and a total of 12 meeting spaces. The surrounding leafy RNA precinct also offers a range of indoor and outdoor venues, along with accommodation, shopping and dining within easy walking distance of the Centre. In mid-October 2024, the Royal ICC and Brisbane Showgrounds will host the Australian Lot Feeders Association’s BeefEx, which celebrates the grain-fed beef industry and is expected to attract more than 500 delegates.  It includes a significant trade show exhibition and a range of social functions to be staged at diverse venues within the RNA Precinct. The internationally-recognised, award-winning Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is located in the heart of Brisbane’s waterfront South Bank district and is just a short stroll from the central business district.  The Centre has an impressive portfolio of 44 meeting rooms and event spaces with capacity for large-scale 8000 pax events through to smaller, boutique-style meetings.  The 17-hectare convention centre precinct offers green parkland, thousands of hotel rooms, Australia’s only inner-city beach, and world-class galleries, theatres, entertainment and dining. In early May 2025, BCEC will be the host venue for another significant beef industry event, the quadrennial World Angus Forum, which will bring together Angus cattle breeders, enthusiasts, and industry professionals from around the world. Scott Wright CEO of Angus Australia spoke about the forum and some of the reasons why it is coming to Brisbane in 2025. “The state of Queensland boasts Australia’s largest cattle population. Queensland has been both important historically for the breed but also more recently a focus for Angus Australia’s efforts to increase the adoption of Angus Genetics into the Northern Beef Industry.” “Brisbane is a vibrant city as a base to many of Australia’s beef businesses. The vibrancy of Brisbane, a focus on agribusiness innovation and location as a jumping off point for the World Forum post-tour of the Queensland Cattle Industry make it ideal for the two-day meeting component of the Forum to be staged at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in May next year,” he said. “In addition to the Queensland farm visits which are part of the official pre and post forum tour program, Brisbane also offers direct access to some of Australia’s top tourist attractions, whilst the city itself has a stunning riverfront location, offering a range of recreational activities and a world-class dining and entertainment scene.” Agri-innovation a focus of 2025 business event Another business event highlighting agricultural innovation will be AgriFutures evokeAG to be staged at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in mid-February 2025.  Delegates from the agrifood tech and innovation community from Australia and across the world are set to share their experiences, showcase technology, innovation and future insights, with attendance anticipated to build upon the 1,800 delegates who supported the event held in 2024. AgriFutures Australia Managing Director John Harvey talked about Queensland’s credentials. “Queensland is fast gaining a reputation as the home of an expanding number of innovators who are creating cutting-edge technologies to transform the agricultural landscape. This combined with its breadth of agricultural, forestry and fishery industries make it the perfect place to host the next edition of AgriFutures evokeAG,” Mr Harvey said. “Since launching in 2019, we’ve learned that to create an event like AgriFutures evokeAG, you need a few key ingredients like a thriving and open local ecosystem, a community hungry for innovation and solutions, and open-minded, passionate people – all of which Queensland has in spades.” Seafood industry conference achieves record attendance Queensland’s agribusiness sector is not only land-based but incorporates the aquaculture and seafood industry. When Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), the national peak-body representing Australia’s commercial fishing industry, held its biennial forum in 2022, it chose Brisbane as the host destination. The Seafood Directions conference, held at the Sofitel Brisbane Central, was a sell-out event and was the largest ever staged by SIA. It was supported by both Tourism Events Queensland and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, and provided an opportunity to showcase Queensland expertise.  The conference focussed on retailers, wholesalers and post-harvest operations in regional areas which encouraged transparent and open communication with consumers and the community. Veronica Papacosta, CEO of Seafood Industry Australia, spoke about Seafood Directions and how Brisbane and Queensland had contributed to the event, which had sustainability as a key focus. “The Seafood Directions conference held in Brisbane in 2022 provided an excellent forum for industry leaders and innovators across aquaculture, wild-catch and post-harvest to join together with scientists, fisheries managers and broader stakeholders,” she said. “Tourism Events Queensland and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency were admirable conference partners and provided exceptional support throughout the conference. Brisbane offered conference participants a convenient and impressive destination with a range of must-see attractions, premiere accommodations, and delectable seafood dining options.” Brisbane’s uniquely integrated support for business events Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) is an integrated agency driving the sustainable economic growth of Brisbane. It is also the city’s official convention bureau which provides invaluable support and assistance to planners of business events such as BeefEx, World Angus Forum, evokeAG and Seafood Directions. Lorelle Chittick, General Manager of Tourism, Business and Major Events at BEDA summed up how the agriculture sector presents an excellent example of capitalising on industry strengths and connections to attract prestigious business events. “Brisbane has established a formidable advantage in the highly competitive business events marketplace and the line up of conferences to be hosted here this year and next are testimony to how the city’s innovative sector-led approach is producing impressive outcomes.” “The BEDA Business Events Team’s in-depth local knowledge of Brisbane and our close partnerships with hotels, the convention centres, meeting venues and service providers enable us to provide holistic support for planners, from early stages through to event completion,” she said. “We believe our network of business leaders, industry, academia and government, as well as our capacity to work hand-in-hand with other BEDA business units of relevance, such as Investment Attraction, Tourism, Major Events and Industry Engagement, can make an invaluable contribution to the success of a business event hosted in our beautiful city.” Connectivity and global appeal Brisbane enjoys strong aviation connectivity and is within close proximity to key Asian markets. Brisbane Airport’s dual runways deliver the highest aviation capacity in Australia, providing scope for ongoing growth in flight arrivals. Currently 29 international destinations across Asia, Europe and North America are serviced by direct flights to Brisbane, whilst there are connections to 61 domestic airport locations throughout the country, the most extensive domestic network in Australia. The 2024 New York Times Travel section selected Brisbane as one of “52 Places to go” in its global listing, noting the city’s positive momentum as the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games host.  Its positive outlook, exciting new infrastructure such as the AUD$3.6b Queen’s Wharf integrated resort, dining and entertainment development currently underway, creative culture and cuisine all contributed to Brisbane’s selection. Connect with BEDA to find out more about the city’s industry sectors and business events – visit www.choose.brisbane.qld.au/events/business-events Sponsored by BEDA in partnership with Business Events Australia.