Program

Banana Congress 2025 will see the return of Congress favourites including the Gala 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.

Wednesday, 6 August
Thursday, 7 August
Friday, 8 August


0730-0900	VENUE: ROYAL POINCIANA ROOM
0730-0900	REGISTRATION


0830-1630	Science Symposium Tea and coffee on arrival
0845-1015	SESSION 1
0845-1015	Welcome and introduction 0845-0900
1015-1040	MORNING TEA
1040-1135	SESSION 2
1135-1225	SESSION 3
1225-1325	LUNCH
1325-1420	SESSION 4
1420-1505	SESSION 5
1505-1520	AFTERNOON TEA
1520-1630	SESSION 6


TBC	VENUE: ABGC LOUNGE	VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS
TBC	ABGC Member Meet-Up	Insider’s guide to Congress


1730-1930	VENUE: PODIUM LAWNS
	Welcome Reception
	Sponsored by: Australian Produce Partners


0700	REGISTRATION


0730	VENUE: EXHIBITION ARENA, CAIRNS CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
	TEA AND COFFEE OPEN
		VENUE: TBC
		Grower Breakfast Session *Registration required 0715-0800
		Sponsored by: Mackays Marketing


0830-0915	SESSION 1 Billy Collett
0915-0925	OFFICIAL OPENING Introduction from Banana Congress MC Pip Courtney
0925-0935	STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Leanne Erakovic, ABGC CEO
0935-1015	HOT TOPIC SPEAKER TBA
1015-1045	VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1015-1045	MORNING TEA
1045-1145	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1045-1145	SESSION 2A: TBA
1145-1215	SESSION 2B: AGTECH AND SUSTAINABILTY IN ACTION Panel discussion
1215-1415	VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
	LUNCH BREAK
		VENUE: RACV ROYAL PINES, VIDERE RESTAURANT
		Banana Women’s Luncheon
		Sponsored by: Pakall Pty Ltd
1415-1530	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1415-1530	SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT What’s happening now and what’s on the cards


1530-1610	VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1530-1610	AFTERNOON TEA & SCIENCE POSTER SESSION
1610-1700	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
	SESSION 3: SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS John Moor


1730-1930	Tradeshow Exhibition Evening


0630	GET ACTIVE (More to come!)
0700	REGISTRATION


0730	VENUE: EXHIBITION ARENA, CAIRNS CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
	TEA AND COFFEE OPEN
		VENUE: TBC
		ABGC Members Only Grower Meeting *Registration required 0715-0800
0830-1000	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
0830-1000	SESSION 4: HOT TOPIC SPEAKER AND DISCUSSION TBA Keynote speaker


1000-1030	VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1000-1030	MORNING TEA
1030-1200	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1030-1200	SESSION 5: TBA
1200-1330	VENUE: EXHIBITION HALL – ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1200-1330	LUNCH BREAK
1330-1400	SESSION 6: TBA
1400-1520	VENUE: ROYAL BENOWA BALLROOM
1400-1520	TITLE: TBA Jana Pittman
1520-1530	Closing address


1900 – late	Banana Industry Ball & Awards of Honour
1900 – late	Sponsored by: Visy

Keep me updated

Organisers

MCI Australia

Australian Banana Growers' Council

Designed and built by MCI Australia

Science Poster Panel

Paper #	Presenter	Abstract Submission Title	Presenting at Science Poster Panel
1	Elizabeth Aitken	Identifying Sources of Resistance to Fusarium Wilt	✅
2	Delwar Akbar	Banana action plan: How to minimise food waste?	✅
3	Molly Blake	Understanding inter-row ground cover in the Wet Tropics Banana farming region	✅
4	Shannon Byrnes	Banana Yield Mapping	✅
5	Lilia Carvalhais	Novel assay to detect Ralstonia solanacearum causing Moko disease in banana	✅
6	Tegan Cavallaro	Extension – The value of putting grower collaboration at the heart of project design and delivery.	✅
7	Ingrid Jenkins	Bunch pest management, investigating practices to maximise efficacy and stewardship of registered chemistries	✅
8	John Thomas	A lateral flow immunoassay for the in-field detection of banana bunchy top virus	✅
9	Kathy Crew	BBTV-infected plants are infectious earlier than previously thought!	✅
10	Andre Drenth	Keeping bananas healthy	✅
11	David East	Chemical control of yellow Sigatoka	✅
12	Paul Edwards	Cavendish Banana production management using plant growth regulators	✅
13	Daniel Farrell	Insect sanctuaries for Beneficial Predators and Parasites in Bananas	✅
14	Daniel Farrell	Using Beneficial Mites to Control Banana Spider Mites	✅
15	Kathy Grice	Is deleafing critical in the management of yellow Sigatoka?	✅
16	Alex Lindsay	The banana nutrient rates trial project	✅
17	Andrew Macnish	Banana supply chain monitoring and simulation identifies critical control points	✅
18	Thu Ha Ngo	Diagnosis of Panama TR4 in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 for NATA accreditation	✅
19	Vu Nguyen	EFS – suppression of TR4 is now possible	✅
20	Cecilia O’Dwyer	Development and validation of diagnostic assays for detection of phytoplasmas infecting banana	⨯
21	Tony Pattison	Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help with Panama disease decision making	✅
22	Richard Piper	Entomopathogens for banana bunch pest control.	✅
23	Emily Rames	Diverse banana germplasm to support industry development	✅
24	Janet Roberts	Pathology and Ecology of Fusarium Wilt Subtropical Race 4	⨯
25	Katelyn Robertson	Are we approaching Goldfinger’s golden era?	✅
26	Visnja Steele	Virus diagnostics support movement of clean planting material	⨯

Science Poster Panel

Paper #	Presenter	Abstract Submission Title	Presenting at Science Poster Panel
1	Elizabeth Aitken	Identifying Sources of Resistance to Fusarium Wilt	✅
2	Delwar Akbar	Banana action plan: How to minimise food waste?	✅
3	Molly Blake	Understanding inter-row ground cover in the Wet Tropics Banana farming region	✅
4	Shannon Byrnes	Banana Yield Mapping	✅
5	Lilia Carvalhais	Novel assay to detect Ralstonia solanacearum causing Moko disease in banana	✅
6	Tegan Cavallaro	Extension – The value of putting grower collaboration at the heart of project design and delivery.	✅
7	Ingrid Jenkins	Bunch pest management, investigating practices to maximise efficacy and stewardship of registered chemistries	✅
8	John Thomas	A lateral flow immunoassay for the in-field detection of banana bunchy top virus	✅
9	Kathy Crew	BBTV-infected plants are infectious earlier than previously thought!	✅
10	Andre Drenth	Keeping bananas healthy	✅
11	David East	Chemical control of yellow Sigatoka	✅
12	Paul Edwards	Cavendish Banana production management using plant growth regulators	✅
13	Daniel Farrell	Insect sanctuaries for Beneficial Predators and Parasites in Bananas	✅
14	Daniel Farrell	Using Beneficial Mites to Control Banana Spider Mites	✅
15	Kathy Grice	Is deleafing critical in the management of yellow Sigatoka?	✅
16	Alex Lindsay	The banana nutrient rates trial project	✅
17	Andrew Macnish	Banana supply chain monitoring and simulation identifies critical control points	✅
18	Thu Ha Ngo	Diagnosis of Panama TR4 in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 for NATA accreditation	✅
19	Vu Nguyen	EFS – suppression of TR4 is now possible	✅
20	Cecilia O’Dwyer	Development and validation of diagnostic assays for detection of phytoplasmas infecting banana	⨯
21	Tony Pattison	Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help with Panama disease decision making	✅
22	Richard Piper	Entomopathogens for banana bunch pest control.	✅
23	Emily Rames	Diverse banana germplasm to support industry development	✅
24	Janet Roberts	Pathology and Ecology of Fusarium Wilt Subtropical Race 4	⨯
25	Katelyn Robertson	Are we approaching Goldfinger’s golden era?	✅
26	Visnja Steele	Virus diagnostics support movement of clean planting material	⨯

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Program

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Organisers

MCI Australia

Australian Banana Growers' Council

Keep me updated

Science Poster Panel

Science Poster Panel