Banana Congress 2025 wrapped up with a vibrant return of beloved favourites, from the Banana Ball and Awards of Honour to the ever-popular Women’s Luncheon, which was more inspiring than ever. The Science Symposium, held the day before Congress, once again proved to be a major drawcard for researchers and science-minded growers. Alongside these cherished traditions, this year’s Congress introduced fresh experiences, a new layout, and tackled key industry issues — making it a truly memorable gathering for the Australian banana industry.
Banana Congress 2025 will see the return of Congress favourites including the Banana Ball and Awards of Honour and our much-loved Women’s Luncheon will also be back and better than ever. Building on the success of previous years, the Science Symposium will be held the day prior to Congress. This is a huge drawcard for researchers, as well as science-minded growers and industry stakeholders. While we’re bringing back the favourites, rest assured Congress 2025 will also offer new experiences, a fresh layout and tackle some key industry issues.
The Congress program is subject to change.
|
VENUE: ROYAL POINCIANA ROOM |
|
|
0730-0900 |
REGISTRATION
|
|
0800-0845 |
TEA/COFFEE NETWORKING
|
|
0845-1630 |
Science Symposium
|
|
THEME: The Gene Scene |
|
|
SESSION 1 Welcome and introduction Rosie Godwin, Research and Development Manager, Australian Banana Growers’ Council & Tegan Cavallaro, Senior Development Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries Banana Fusarium wilt research at Stellenbosch University: An overview Altus Viljoen, Professor in Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University Sponsored by: Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research 
Development of resources to accelerate the genetic improvement of banana and support long-term industry resilience Robert Henry, Professor Of Innovation In Agriculture, University Of Queensland & Emily Rames, Research Scientist, QLD Department Of Primary Industries Identifying Resistance Genes in Wild Banana Elizabeth Aitken, Professor in Plant Pathology, University of Queensland QCAV-4: a Cavendish banana with Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 resistance – now approved for commercial cultivation in Australia Anthony James, Senior Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Towards a consumer-acceptable Goldfinger banana via gene editing Jacinta Watkins, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Combined Q&A |
|
|
MORNING TEA 1015-1045 |
|
|
SESSION 2
|
|
|
THEME: Variety Show |
|
|
New varieties for Australian banana growers
Jeff Daniells, Principal Horticulturist, QLD Department Of Primary Industries Uncovering the hidden genetic diversity of Mus a acuminata ssp. banksii in Northern Queensland, Australia Steven Janssens, Senior Researcher, Meise Botanic Garden Combined Q&A |
|
|
THEME: Protect and detect |
|
|
The enduring benefits of excluding plant diseases
Andre Drenth, Program Leader Crop Protection, University of Queensland Strengthening Australian banana biosecurity through validated diagnostics of exotic fungal and bacterial diseases Lilia Carvalhais, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Queensland Improvement of Panama disease diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing Edward Gilding, Senior Molecular Biologist, Department Of Primary Industries Combined Q&A Small RNA sequencing as a high throughput screening tool for banana viruses Kathy Crew, Principal Plant Pathologist, QLD Department of Primary Industries Diversity of banana wilt associated phytoplasmas and their diagnostics Mignon De Jager, Phd Student, QAAFI Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Combined Q&A Wrap-up of morning and instructions about lunch |
|
|
LUNCH 1235-1400 |
|
|
SESSION 3
|
|
|
THEME: Mites, flights and challenges that keep you up at night |
|
|
Facing challenges to achieve a quality future Ingrid Jenkins, Senior Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries A review of the interactions between birds and bats and bananas – implications for the Australian banana industry Stewart Lindsay, Team Leader of Banana Production Systems, QLD Department of Primary Industries Survival of the Mite Predator Stethorus fenestralis After Exposure to Banana Fungicides Daniel Farrell, Entomologist, QLD Department of Primary Industries A deep dive into the SBFS complex Kathy Grice, Principal Experimentalist, Department of Primary Industries Combined Q&A |
|
|
AFTERNOON TEA 1455-1525 |
|
|
SESSION 4
|
|
|
THEME: Ground truths |
|
|
Revealing the Risks of Fusarium Wilt Subtropical Race 4
Janet Roberts, Phd Student, QAAFI Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Have You Got Soil Health Covered? The Role of Ground Cover in Banana Farm Soils Hazel Gaza, Senior Soil Ecologist, Department Of Primary Industries Phosphorus in banana plant tissue under different levels of soil P Alex Lindsay, Senior Research Agronomist, Department of Primary Industries Combined Q&A Wrap up and close including post event evaluation Rosie Godwin & Tegan Cavallaro |
|
RECONNECT + RECHARGE
|
VENUE: ABGC LOUNGE |
|||
|
1700-1730 |
|
||
|
VENUE: ABGC LOUNGE |
VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS |
|||
|
1700-1730 |
|
Insider’s guide to Congress |
||
|
VENUE: ABGC LOUNGE |
VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS |
|||
|
1700-1730 |
|
Insider’s guide to Congress |
||
|
VENUE: ABGC LOUNGE |
VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS |
|||
|
1700-1730 |
|
Insider’s guide to Congress |
||
|
VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS |
|
|
1730-1930 |
Welcome Reception THEME: A touch of yellow |
|
Sponsored by: Australian Produce Partners 
|
|
|
0700 |
REGISTRATION |
|
VENUE: CYPRESS 1 & 2 |
|
|
0715-0815 |
Mackays Marketing Breakfast Session
*Registration required  Pat Farmer, Marathon Athlete and Former Politician |
|
Sponsored by: Mackay’s Marketing  |
|
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
0730
|
TEA AND COFFEE
|
RECONNECT
|
0830-1015 |
SESSION 1A: WELCOME (WE DON’T BITE!)
 Billy Collett, Australian Reptile Park, Bondi Vet OFFICIAL OPENING  Pip Courtney, Landline host STATE OF THE INDUSTRY  |
|
SESSION 1B: INTERNATIONAL INSIGHT
 Altus Viljoen, Professor in Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University Sponsored by: Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research
|
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1015-1045 |
MORNING TEA |
RECHARGE
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
||
|
1045-1205 |
SESSION 2: MAKING YOUR MARK(ET)
 Innovation in horticulture: Can we reinvent banana? Robert Henry, Professor Of Innovation In Agriculture, University of Queensland  Naomi Abbott, Technical Officer, NQ Banana Research 
Gavin Scurr, Managing Director, Pinata Farms PANEL discussion: What does it take to get a new variety onto the shelf and into homes? Panel members: Naomi Abbott, Technical Officer, NQ Banana Research Altus Viljoen, Professor in Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University Gavin Scurr, Managing Director, Pinata Farms Robert Henry, Professor Of Innovation In Agriculture, University of Queensland |
|
|
1205-1415 |
LUNCH |
VENUE: RACV ROYAL PINES, VIDERE RESTAURANT |
|
|
||
|
Sponsored by: Pakall Pty Ltd 
|
||
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
||
|
1405-1500 |
SESSION 3: RIPE IDEAS | Host: Andrew Francey  Andrew Francey, General Manager, Industry Service & Delivery, Hort Innovation  Dr Chris Lehnhert, Senior Lecturer, Australian Cobotics Centre  Matthew Harper, Chief Executive Officer, Aerial Application Association of Australia  Rhett Heffernan, Agricultural Pilot, Liddles Aerial Spraying Sponsored by: Liddles Aerial Spraying 
 Doriana Mangili, Business Manager, Sweeter Banana Co-operative |
|
|
1500-1530 |
|
|
REGENERATE
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1530-1610 |
AFTERNOON TEA & SCIENCE POSTER SESSION |
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1610-1700 |
|
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1730-1930 |
Tradeshow Exhibition Evening |
|
Sponsored by: Costa 
|
|
|
0630 |
GET ACTIVE (More to come!) |
|
|
0700 |
REGISTRATION |
|
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
||
|
0730
|
TEA AND COFFEE OPEN
|
|
|
VENUE: CYPRESS 1 & 2 |
|
|
0715-0815 |
ABGC Members Only Grower Meeting
*pre-registration required |
RECONNECT + REGENERATE
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
0830-0950 |
SESSION 5A: WHERE TO FOR WORKFORCE  Steve Burdette, Executive Officer, Approved Employers Australia |
|
SESSION 5B: UNDERSTANDING THE BANANA CATEGORY TO DRIVE DEMAND Sponsored by: Hort Innovation 
   |
|
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
0950-1020 |
MORNING TEA
|
REGENERATE
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1030-1200 |
SESSION 6: FUTURE-FOCUSSED FARMING  Peter Wren-Hilton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Platform 10 and Wharf42 PANEL: Solving the soil health puzzle Facilitator John Pickering, Chief Behavioural Scientist, Evidn – panel facillitator Panellists Simon Mattson, Educator/Consultant, Regen Ag John Pickering, Chief Behavioural Scientist, Evidn – panel facillitator Dr Neil Wilson, Director of Research Microbiology, Metagen Stephen Lowe, Grower Michael Russo, Marlin Blue Bananas, Grower Peter Inderbitzin, Grower, Red Valley Farms, Lakeland  Tony Pattison, Senior-principal Nematologist, Department of Primary Industries |
|
VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1200-1330 |
LUNCH
|
REGENERATE
|
VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM |
|
|
1330-1520 |
SESSION 7: ON TRACK FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE  Noel Ainsworth, Principal Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industries  Jane Siebum, Chief Executive Officer, Freshcare  Kathryn Dryden, Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory, ABGC  Jana Pittman, Commonwealth Champion – Athletics Sponsored by: Arcella Bananas Home of Tropicana Ltd 
|
|
1520-1530 |
|
RECONNECT + REGENERATE
|
1900 – late |
Banana Ball and Industry Awards, featuring new award categories |
|
Sponsored by: Visy 
|
