Program
The ABARES Outlook program is subject to change.
Tuesday 2 March – Day 1
- 8.00am: Registration opens + Arrival tea and coffee
- 9.00am
Conference opening and Welcome to Country
- 9.20am
Day 1 Opening Address
- 9.30am
ABARES Address: Domestic outlook
- 9.50am
Keynote Address: Global outlook
- 10.10am
In conversation with……TBC
Following their opening addresses, Acting ABARES Executive Director, David Galeano and the Keynote speaker will delve further into the economic outlook for Australian agriculture. Examining the changing international and domestic landscape, they will explore how agriculture can remain central to the national conversation and identify the players who will shape the sector’s future.
- 10.40am: Morning tea
- 11.10am
Session 1 - Commodity outlook: Livestock, grains and horticulture
ABARES analysts will present the latest forecasts for livestock, grains, oilseeds, horticulture and wine, including the impacts of current economic uncertainty and future markets.
- 11.50am
Session 2 - International trade tensions: What's at stake for agriculture?
Economic security challenges, trade volatility and geopolitical tensions are reshaping Australian agriculture. Our experts will examine these influences, Australia’s place in global markets, and how they are shaping our future competitiveness.
- 1.00pm: Lunch
- 2.00pm
Session 3 - What priorities should drive food security decisions?
Australia’s food security challenge extends beyond how much food we can produce. It depends on the strength and resilience of the entire food system, from the inputs that support production through to the networks that move food to consumers. As global uncertainty, affordability pressures and demographic change reshape the operating environment, panellists will explore what’s required to build a more resilient and sustainable food system for the future.
- 3.00pm
Session 4 - Investing for growth: Who will fund Australia's next wave?
Where will future agricultural investment come from? Does current investment align with future needs? What will be required to unlock future growth opportunities across the sectors? Hear from (TBC) as they unpack these questions and asks delegates to consider what’s needed for a prosperous future.
- 3.30pm: Afternoon tea
- 4.00pm
Session 5 - Beyond R&D: How do we turn investment into impact?
Australia’s agricultural R&D system has a long history of delivering world-class innovation. The panel will examine how researchers, industry and producers can continue to work together to accelerate adoption, unlock productivity opportunities and maximise the impact of R&D investment on farm.
- 5.00pm: Day 1 conference close
- 6.00pm: Drinks
- 7.00pm: Official Dinner sponsored by the Council of RDCs
Wednesday 3 March – Day 2
- 8.15am: Arrival tea and coffee
- 9.00am
Day 2 Welcome
- 9.10am
Day 2 Opening Address
- 9.20am
Session 6 - How are farmers managing change on Australia's agricultural landscapes?
Australian farmers are already implementing a wide range of land management practices that support productive and sustainable farming systems. Drawing on new results from the National Agricultural Land Management Survey (NALMS), our ABARES analyst will explore what's happening on farms across the country, the factors influencing change, and how these insights can help shape future sustainable agriculture policies and programs.
- 9.50am
Session 7 - Coexistence or conflict? Balancing competing land use priorities
As pressure grows across agricultural production, housing developments, renewable energy projects, mining and environmental priorities, how will land-use decisions be made and who will shape those choices? Panellists will consider the trade-offs, opportunities and policy settings that influence land allocation, and explore how different industries, communities and governments can work together to ensure productive agriculture continues to coexist with Australia’s evolving economic, social and environmental needs.
- 11.00am: Morning tea
- 11.30am
Session 8 - Commodity outlook: Fisheries, forestry and farm performance
ABARES analysts will present the latest forecasts for fisheries, forestry, and farm performance, giving a glimpse into the future of the sectors.
- 12.10pm
Session 9 - Who gets a say? Forestry, social licence and Australia's land use future
Forestry is increasingly being asked to deliver multiple outcomes: productive land use, climate mitigation, biodiversity protection and economic growth. Our speaker will explore the industry’s future prospects amid changing environmental conditions, competition for land, evolving policy settings and community expectations. The presenter will consider the trade-offs, opportunities and decisions that will shape the role of forestry in Australia’s agricultural and natural resource landscape over the coming decades.
- 12.40pm
Session 10 - The future of seafood: Who decides, who benefits, who bears the cost?
The seafood industry is facing significant change. Competition for access to water and marine space, evolving community expectations, renewable energy development, climate and environmental pressures, and increasing ESG requirements are reshaping the operating environment for commercial fishing and aquaculture. This presentation will examine the challenges confronting the sector and explore how industry, governments and communities can work together to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for Australian seafood production.
- 1.10pm: Lunch
- 2.10pm
Session 11 - Debate - Farming for the long run: How can we ensure farmers are profitable and world leading?
Australian agriculture continues to grow, but is everyone benefiting? With increased input costs, labour pressures and global volatility, should the focus be on farm business profitability, return on investment, sustainability, local prosperity or global competitiveness? Join industry and thought leaders as they challenge conventional thinking and explore the priorities that should shape the next chapter of Australian agriculture.
- 3.45pm
Reflections & Closing
- 4.00pm: End of conference
Contact Us
For questions about tickets contact outlooktickets@confco.com.au.
For all questions about the program or sponsorship contact abaresevents@aff.gov.au.
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ABARES is a division of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people the traditional custodians of the land where we work and where Outlook is hosted. We pay our Yadaba (respects) to the Traditional Custodians of this land, their culture, their language and elders both past and present.