Riverine Plains Innovation Expo 2024

Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data

Riverine Plains will host its annual Innovation Expo at Mulwala from 24 – 25 August 2023.

The theme Putting farmers first – driving decisions using data will focus on the increasingly important role that data plays in farming businesses.

Riverine Plains’ CEO Catherine Marriott emphasises that embracing data-driven decisions is key to sustainable farming, as not only is profitability and productivity important, increasingly our markets are requiring environmental transparency to enable access.

“Farmers are already collecting a wide range of data and the Expo will help ensure farmers focus on using this data to maximise profitability and market access, as well as ensuring the required data is being captured” she said.

“We know production data can provide invaluable insights into our farming systems — from crop yields and soil mapping to individual livestock performance, these data gems can unveil what’s thriving, what needs tweaking, and how we can maximise profitability,” said Ms Marriott.

“However, overseas and domestic markets are also changing in response to consumer and government pressures, so our farm data might be just as critical in gaining access to commodity or carbon markets in the future, as well as banking and insurance services,” she added.

The Innovation Expo will get underway with the Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Innovation Conference on Thursday 24 August.

The Conference will bring high calibre speakers such as Alexandra Gartmann, Chair of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and Nigel Hart, Managing Director GRDC to set the broader scene around data and the use of new technologies, data-sharing with end-users, artificial intelligence and privacy.

The Conference will also feature Alison Kelly and Dale Grey from Agriculture Victoria and there will be a farmer panel discussion on how farmers are collecting and using data to make more informed decisions. A supply chain panel discussion will provide further insights into how markets are driving data collection and use.

Alvan Blanch Australia’s Jane Godson is looking forward to the two-day event.

“We are thrilled to be a Platinum Partner of the Innovation Expo 2023 — it provides us with an exceptional platform to showcase our cutting-edge agricultural machinery and innovative solutions, while also reinforcing our commitment to driving progress and sustainability in agriculture in the Riverine Plains,” said Jane.

Renowned comedian Jean Kittson will provide the entertainment at the Riverine Plains New Edge Microbials Gala Fundraising Dinner. There will also be a charity auction to raise funds for the Riverine Plains Scholarship Program, live music and dancing.

The Riverine Plains Alvan Blanch Australia Farm Tour will be held on Friday 25 August and will take a practical look at how farmers are employing technologies such as drones, weed-detecting technology and grain dryers to make better and more sustainable farming decisions.