Foundation Partner & Gala Dinner Sponsor
Partnering with you for a better world
Visy is delighted to be a long-standing foundation partner of the Australian Banana Industry Congress, supporting the sector’s growers and stakeholders to meet their goals.
We are proudly Australian owned, and our large, local footprint ensures we can offer you more flexibility, greater reliability and faster speed to market. All while providing local jobs and strengthening the Australian manufacturing industry.
As a global leader in packaging and resource recovery, we are able to offer you a full range of innovative packaging and automation solutions, including fibre options, pallets, banana bags and packing shed technology.
Sustainability sits at the centre of our operating model and we are committed to helping you reach your own sustainability goals. Together we can create solutions that meet the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible packaging and make a significant contribution to sustainability for the wider community.
Call 13 VISY or visit www.visy.com.au to find out how we can work together to help you reach your goals.
Principal R&D Partner
As the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture, each year we invest millions of dollars into critical R&D, extension, marketing and international trade initiatives. We’re extremely proud of the work we do to drive productivity, profitability and demand for Aussie growers, and for the sector at large.
Principal Partner
At Woolworths, we take a lot of pride in providing our customers with top quality Australian fresh food.
With more than 1000 stores and 110,000 team members across the country, our purpose is to bring a little good to everyone everyday and supporting Australian growers is a big part of this.
We’re proud of our fresh food credentials with 96% of all our fruit and vegetables sourced right here in Australia and more than two million Woolworths customers pick Cavendish bananas in our stores every week.
We’re also passionate about making healthier choices more affordable for Australian families. In 2015 we launched Free Fruit for Kids to help more Australian kids eat more fruit. In the last year alone, we gave away more than than 26 million pieces of free fruit to kids in store, including millions of Australian bananas.
Major Partner
MacKays Banana Marketing (MBM) was established 20 years ago as an entity to manage the logistics and sales functions of a cooperative of large scale farming families serving customers across Australia. MBM has developed expertise in Quality Assurance, Agronomy, Logistics, New Product Development, Ripening and Marketing; all to ensure final customer satisfaction and enjoyment of our fresh, delicious and healthy product offering. Our mission is to consistently create value by delivering exceptional Australian grown produce and expanding our collaborative relationships with growers and customers alike.
Associate Partners
Costa’s exceptional quality Cavendish and Lady Finger bananas are enjoyed around the country.
Our delicious bananas are grown all year round in the ideal climates of Tully and Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland. We grow them so you can enjoy them every day of the year.
Costa adopts ustainable farming with a specific emphasis upon protecting the Great Barrier Reef. We know fallowing, planting, fertilisation and the use of chemicals all affect the health of the soil, the plants and, crucially, the fruit. We stick to best practice regimes to ensure we can continually provide the best-quality eating bananas.
In addition to our strict farming practices, we maintain strict post harvest procedures including packing, storage, transport, ripening and dispatch. This ensures our bananas remain at optimum condition until the moment they are enjoyed by the end consumer.
Arcella Banana Company and its growing arm Tropicana Banana are proudly 100% Australian family owned and operated. With over 40 years’ experience, we are passionate about all facets of bananas. We are committed in investing in the future of the Australian banana industry.
We strive to provide growers with the best service and ensure that retailers receive the best quality bananas 52 weeks of the year.
Soils First NQ began providing agronomic advice and farm inputs to banana growers in both Tully and the Tablelands in 2003. A warehouse facility in Innisfail was opened in 2011 and in 2016 to service the Tablelands we opened a facility in Tolga.
Our key objective is to provide individual fertiliser solutions to banana growers.
We are the only supplier in the industry to custom blend soluble fertilisers to an individual agronomic requirement.
This process reduces labour costs and is very cost effective compared to one shot blends.
Our long standing relationships with key suppliers ensures reliable supply of quality product and as independent CRT members we have access to the full range of farming inputs at competitive prices.
In 2015, we began manufacturing of Black Urea Granular Blends and are now able to produce blends that cover all the major/minor nutrient requirements of the banana plant.
With over 4,000 metres of warehouse we can accommodate any requirement from Bunch Covers, Banana Twine, Ag Chemical and Fertiliser.
Supporting Partners
Bayer is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds and innovative crop protection solutions, as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. With a large local and international research and development team, Bayer constantly delivers new and innovative products to the Australian banana industry.
Business Events Australia (BEA) is the dedicated business events unit within Tourism Australia. Under the BEA brand, Tourism Australia raises awareness and consideration of Australia’s quality business events product offering and delivery of both association and incentive events. Activity includes brand and content marketing, industry partnerships, educational visits, trade engagement and events that allow the Australian business events industry to meet with qualified buyers to grow their business. BEA works closely with the Australian business events industry, delivering insights, partnerships and opportunities to meet and do business with business events planners and media both in key international markets and domestically. BEA also offers the Australian business events industry a range of resources to assist their own work including research on Tourism Australia’s business events target customer and market profiles that provide the latest information and insights on the key markets.
LaManna Premier Group (LPG) is one of Australia’s largest fresh produce supply chain companies, providing domestic and overseas customers a single source of supply across a diverse range of fruit and vegetable categories.
LPG business operations are enhanced by climate-controlled distribution services, packing and advanced ripening facilities, and a Central Market Trading presence in every Australian State.
LPG’s banana category is underpinned by owned farms and growers in North Queensland and the Northern Territory. Furthermore, LPG’s dedicated packing facility, Australian Banana Company (ABC), in Innisfail QLD, supports growers in the region by providing access to LPG Quality and Technical teams, distribution methods, marketing, and more.
Primary Partners
AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of agricultural solutions, working tirelessly to help make today’s farms more productive and more profitable. Globally recognized brands like Massey Ferguson & Fendt make up part of what makes AGCO so strong.
Massey Ferguson is one of the world’s leading brands in agricultural machinery innovation, helping to ensure farmers achieve greater efficiencies, productivity and at the same time, make life easier for those striving to produce more from the land they farm and care for. The MF 4700 Series is part of the new Global Series range which is based upon the concept of the utility tractor and has been re-engineered from the ground up to meet the needs of present and future farming. Offering farmers between 74 and 82 horsepower, the MF 4700 Series is ideal for the banana industry.
Fendt offers professional solutions for professional customers. Working harder and driving profits faster, Fendt uses the latest technology to boost farm efficiency and keep cost of ownership down. There’s no better way to stay at the top of the fast-paced, ever-evolving agricultural game than Fendt. The Fendt Vario range of tractors are designed for the agriculture industry and the Fendt 211P is a specialty tractor with wider axles and higher lift capacity that is a perfect option for banana farmers.
Agspec Australia is a manufacturer and distributor of fertilisers, crop protection products, adjuvants, biostimulants, and soil and water conditioners. Agspec Australia delivers high quality, branded and professionally packaged products for Australia farmers. Such branded products includes the well-known RapiSol® range of trace elements, Atlantik® biostimulant formulation, and Flextend® adjuvant for improved pesticide activity and retention.
Blenners Transport journey into becoming one of North Queensland’s largest family owned rail and road transport operators started on a banana farm in 1988. Proud of its North Queensland roots, Les and Judy Blennerhassett together with sons, Roger and Ben are now a flagship business in the region.
Blenners Transport has continued to grow steadily to meet the ongoing and ever changing demands of their clients and now their significant fleet supplies fresh produce from North Queensland to all southern states with return loads to Brisbane and North Queensland.
This year at Colin Campbell (Chemicals) [CCC] are celebrating our 80th anniversary. CCC was founded in 1940, in the early days of World War 2 and the company is still 100% Australian Owned and Operated and the owners are actively involved in the business.
CCC is a leading supplier of innovative, reliable, high-quality and ‘niche’ crop protection products for the pre and post-harvest agricultural sector. It specialises in horticulture and recreational turf.
Entegra is an award winning manufacturer that has been manufacturing sheds and shade structures using 100% Australian materials for the agricultural, industrial and education sectors for more than 35 years. We provide a full suite of complimentary services such as design, engineering and obtaining permits. Our previous clients include Howe Farms and also Red Rich Fruits who have a 80m clear span facility that is unobstructed by internal posts. Entegra is certified ISO 9001, with a quality management system, customer focus & process for continual improvement.
FMC is an agricultural sciences company that advances farming through innovative and sustainable crop protection technologies. From our industry leading discovery pipeline, to unique application systems, to modern biological products, we are passionate about bringing new solutions to growers.
Today’s FMC continues to earn the trust of growers and industry partners to maximize their productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Loscam provides returnable packaging solutions and equipment used to store and move products through supply chains in 12 regions throughout Asia Pacific. We have built our reputation by providing outstanding customer service, innovative products and tailored solutions to our customer since our establishment in 1942.
Loscam focus on delivering high quality, efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions which has led to a position of leadership in the manufacturing and retail sectors. This leadership is underpinned by a dedicated team of employees continuously striving to delight our customers through systems and processes that ensure ultimate control of our equipment pools.
Our unique pooling system enables trading partners to share LOSCAM equipment, including pallets, intermediate bulk containers, produce crates and Retail Ready Packaging through the supply chain, enabling conversion of fixed costs to variable costs and promoting environmental sustainability. Our network of service depots are strategically located throughout Asia Pacific to ensure availability of our products when and where you need them
Netafim is the global leader in smart irrigation solutions for a sustainable future.
Founded in 1965, Netafim pioneered the drip revolution.
Today, Netafim provides diverse solutions – from state-of-the-art drippers to advanced automated systems – accompanied by expert agronomic, technical and operational support. Netafim’s market-leading solutions are helping the world grow more with less.
The people at Omnia Specialities Australia are passionate about soil and plant health. They are leaders in the development and manufacture of specialty fertilisers and biostimulants including Humates, Fulvates and Kelp products. Omnia Specialities has been manufacturing humate soil conditioners and fertilisers in Australia since 1990. Only the best quality leonardite is used in the specialised process, yielding the most concentrated humic acids in the world.
Our team of ten Specialist Agronomists help growers, both here in Australia and around the world improve yield, quality, efficiency and sustainability of fruit and vegetable crops.
Opal is very proud to be again part of the Australian Banana Congress in 2021 and would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Opal and to let you know more about the newest Packaging and Paper company in Australia and New Zealand’s. Opal is owned by Nippon Paper Industries (NPI) and combines the Orora Fibre Businesses with Australian Paper to form one of the largest packaging and paper companies in our region.
Opal’s Fresh Team have dedicated fruit and produce account management team that have a thorough understanding of the banana produce supply chain and are committed to keeping you at the forefront of industry trends. Opal offers an extensive range of banana carton solutions to meet all your requirements and wherever possible we implement sustainable practices to your business and environment today and tomorrow.
To remain the leading supplier in all fruit and produce packaging, the strategy is to provide more innovative solutions that compliment all market requirements whilst retaining high performance outcomes.
Think Packaging, think Opal.
QMAC Machinery is the leading supplier of Kubota into Far North Queensland since 1997 with branches in Cairns, Innisfail and Tully. We specialise in Kubota Tractors, Mowers, RTV’s and Implements. Our salespeople are well trained and versed on what we offer, and have the expertise to find the right product for your application. We not only sell the products, we offer all warranty work, parts and service on every item that we sell. We have fully trained mobile technicians that aim to fix the problem “on time the first time”. Our Parts Departments have many years of experience and are here to support your business. Your success is our success….
The Banana Industry is an integral part of our business and one that we have been very active in supporting. We look forward to a great event and catching up with existing and new customers.
SACOA is an Australian owned and operated manufacturer of products designed to control a range of pests and diseases in key horticultural and broadacre crops in Australia. Throughout SACOA’s thirty year history, developing products specifically for disease and pest control for Australian banana growers has been a key focus.
BIOPEST, which was developed in collaboration with Australian banana growers, is the only locally developed product on the market. Designed for controlling yellow sigatoka and sucking pests, BIOPEST is unique in being developed and formulated specifically for Australian conditions and agronomic practices.
BIOPEST is manufactured in Australia, is proven with over 20 years of commercial field use and independent trialling, and is the product of choice for agronomists, consultants and aerial operators.
SACOA continues to invest in the Australian banana industry with an ongoing local research and development program – and fully supports its product range with technical and sales support teams.
For over 50 years, Signet has been a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of packaging and industrial supplies. With over 5500 products from brands you know and trust, Signet is your local supplier of choice. Whether you need safety, warehousing, labelling, marking, PPE or packaging supplies, we’ve got you covered.
Stoller products are based on a deep knowledge in Plant Physiology and its practical applications to increase quality and yield in a variety of crops.
Stoller in Australia are based in Adelaide, South Australia with representatives and distributors throughout the country. We are committed to manufacturing high quality liquid fertilizers and specialty nutrient products that assist crops to reach their full potential. Stoller products are distributed through a network of dealers nationwide.
Our detailed knowledge of Plant Physiology and advanced understanding of how crops respond to the environment allows us to constantly innovate and develop our products. Our Australian team undertake trials and demonstrations throughout the country to deeply understand the way our products impact plant potential in a variety of conditions. Stoller employ skilled representatives that work nationwide with growers, agronomists and distributors. We share our detailed knowledge to assist growers maximise yield potential.
In combination with proper nutrition and good farming practices, the result is enhanced marketable yield, significant return-on-investment and improved stress tolerance.
Trade Night Sponsors
Pakall is a family owned and operated supplier of packaging and protective films to the banana industry for over 30 years. Full vertical integration allows us to tightly manage every step from design, manufacture, and distribution which ensures our customers enjoy excellent supply security, reduced costs, improved quality and streamlined purchasing.
Innovation Zone Sponsors
Tie Up Farming offers the only cloud-based end-to-end operations platform for the horticulture industry, translating open-field farming into an accurate, yield-driven operation.
Our focus is on the field user in the labour-intensive medium to large agribusinesses. We create one point of data capturing during the farming process enabling the data to be streamlined in the agribusiness.
Other than the control and command modules we utilise QR barcodes and integration to sensors on the farm to capture more data.
- Banana yield forecasting and yield mapping
- Cost per block/hectare
- Streamlined workflow
- Control and Commend multiple farms
- Complete traceability
- Reduced costs
- Improved yield
- Freshcare, Harps and Global Gap
Back A Grower Sponsor
J-Tech Systems has been delivering the best labelling, automation and packaging solutions to the Australian fresh produce industry for more than 20 years.
As a company, we’re about sharing our knowledge and expertise with the industry and delivering real-value and practical solutions to support our customers and their business needs.
J-Tech Systems – Driving value. Delivering more.
Exhibitors
