Industry heavyweights address the AUSVEG National Convention at the Agribusiness Leaders Panel

Today, the Managing Director of Bayer CropScience, Joerg Ellmanns, was one of five prominent industry members to address the Agribusiness Leaders Panel at the 2012 AUSVEG National Convention and spoke about Australia’s need to appreciate the importance of the local food and vegetable industry.

“Mr Ellmanns delivered a powerful speech, touching on the significance of the horticulture sector’s skilled labour shortage, both at present and in the future;emphasising the need for greater investment in education and training pathways,” said AUSVEG Senior Communications Officer, Courtney Burger.

AUSVEG is the National Peak Industry Body for Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

“It was a privilege to have such significant members of the agriculture industry be present for the Agribusiness Leaders Panel this morning. Joining Mr Ellmanns on the stage were Elders Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Jackman, DuPont Crop Protection Productions Australian New Zealand Business Director Scott Huf, Head of Vegetables in Australia for Syngenta Andrew Simeonidis and Horticulture Australia Chief Executive Officer John Lloyd,” said Miss Burger.

“Mr Ellmanns put the priorities of people today into the spotlight and implored that a healthy meal needs to be considered more important than the latest technological gadget,” said Miss Burger. The Agribusiness Leaders Panel formed part of the broader AUSVEG National Convention, Trade Show and Awards for Excellence taking place at Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart across the coming two days.

Elders CEO, Mr Jackman, warned against a “short-termism” approach by industry and the media and encouraged both to look beyond the issues encountered with local supermarkets to the opportunities in Asian export markets.

The AUSVEG National Convention is the biggest event in the horticulture calendar and this year’s Convention is set to eclipse that number of attendees and inject approximately one million dollars into the Tasmanian economy.