The Gatton Smart Farm Ag Tech Showcase joined a group of ten award winners honoured across the Australian horticulture industry at the Horticulture Awards for Excellence held in Melbourne on 5 June.
Presented in front of a crowd of more than 1,500, the 2023 Gatton Smart Farm Ag Tech Showcase was awarded the Visy Impact Industry Award for being a showcase that invested in creating and implementing a system of technology or business practice outside of the industry norm.
In 2023, Ian Layden led the Gatton Smart Farm in the delivery of a ground-breaking showcase of ag technology with a program of live field AgTech demonstrations on a scale unseen before in Australia.
The Gatton AgTech Showcase attracted 700 visitors, including 220 growers, to see advanced field tech like FarmDroid’s autonomous seeder and weeder and Stout’s Smart Cultivator.
It was the first event in Australia to bring domestic and international AgTech companies together for the horticulture sector.
Ausveg chief executive Michael Coote said each award recipient should be tremendously proud with the impact they made to the horticulture industry.
“Each of the winners of this year’s Horticulture Awards for Excellence have made major contributions to the Australian horticulture industry, and they provide clear examples of the innovation and dedication that drives this industry forward,” he said.
“For the leadership and value they bring to the Australian horticulture industry, I thank and congratulate all of our winners, as well as the strong field of nominees in this year’s awards.”
The Horticulture Awards for Excellence 2024 winners were:
Syngenta Grower of the Year: Rocky Lamattina & Sons – Victoria
Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year: Zeke Zalsman, Zaldeesh Farms – Western Australia
Bayer Researcher of the Year: Doris Blaesing, RMCG – Victoria
Butler Market Gardens Environmental & Sustainability: End Food Waste, Australian Banana Growers Council and Melons Australia – National
UPL Tech & Innovation: RapidAim – Queensland
Muirs Community Stewardship Award: Veg Education – Victoria
Hort Innovation Exporter of the Year Award: Nutrano Produce Group – New South Wales
Boomaroo Nurseries Women in Horticulture: Bree Watson, Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers – Queensland
VISY Industry Impact: Ian Layden (Gatton Smart Farm Ag Tech Showcase), QDAF – Queensland
Seeka Marketer of the Year Award: Perfection Fresh – New South Wales
