Young agricultural innovators to take the stage at major agrifood tech event

Ten young innovative Australians with a passion for agriculture have been selected to take part in the inaugural international agrifood technology event called evokeAG.

The two-day think-tank, to be held 19-20 February 2019 in Melbourne, will draw together some of the world’s leading experts to discuss the future of food and most importantly, how it will be produced.

Joining the international program, organised by AgriFutures Australia, will be 10 of the country’s brightest young minds specially chosen to take part in the evokeAG. Future Young Leaders Program. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds and include an experienced jillaroo, an HSC student from Sydney and a young Queensland man who has deferred his university studies to help his family in the drought.

Proudly supported by the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, each successful applicant will present their idea, relating to one of the event themes of food, farm or future. It is a rare opportunity giving them direct access to producers, investors, private enterprise, corporates, government and entrepreneurs attending evokeAG.

AgriFutures Australia, General Manager, Communications and Capacity Building, Belinda Allitt said the evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program attracted a diverse range of impressive applicants from both metropolitan and rural areas who demonstrated a passion for food and farming.

“This is not just a unique opportunity for these outstanding young people but also for industry leaders to come together and think outside of the box with some innovative and creative ideas that will ultimately help all Australians.

“We are proud to be facilitating such relationships, to be able to harness such concepts in their infancy that could well change the future of agrifoods worldwide,” said Ms Allitt.

Applicants were selected after submitting a video detailing why they wanted to be the voice of the future at evokeAG. The eight finalists were chosen by the Future Young Leaders Selection Panel are:

• Rebekah Ash |19 years old | The Gap, QLD
• Rayali Banerjee | 24 years old | Epping, NSW
• Dylan Bellchambers | 18 years old | Ulverstone, TAS
• Jordyn Kitschke | 23 years old | Adelaide, SA
• Emma Moss | 20 years old | Southbrook, QLD
• Matthew Nevison | 20 years old | Gordon, NSW
• Minh Nga Nguyen | 18 years old | Stanmore, NSW
• Kate Taylor | 28 years old | Blackmans Bay, TAS

A further two finalists were chosen by the general public with a shortlist of five videos shared across the evokeAG social media channels. The People’s Choice finalists are:

• Callan Daley | 20 years old | Beilba, QLD
• James Bidstrup | 21 years old | Beechboro, WA

Each winner will receive a five-minute presentation opportunity at the event, as well as return economy airfares, accommodation, airport transfers and a delegate pass to evokeAG.

Executive Officer at the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, Tim Lester, said the evokeAG. Future Young Leaders Program is a wonderful opportunity to support young forward- thinkers and ultimately keep Australia’s rural industries thriving.

“It is incredibly exciting to bring together the next generation of leaders with their passion, bold thinking and bright ideas with industry experts from the food and agriculture industries.

“By assisting them with the skills, research and know-how, we may well be able to fast-track these innovations into a reality,” said Mr Lester.

evokeAG. 2019 will take place in Melbourne at the iconic Royal Exhibition Building on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 February 2019.

For full details of the evokeAG. 2019 program including key national and international speakers and to purchase tickets online, please head to www.evokeag.com

For more information regarding the 10 finalists please visit: https://evokeag.com/evokeag-future-young-leaders/

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