Melbourne Hort Market Immersion

Melbourne, Australia | 29 May - 3 June 2024

Our market immersions have allowed more than 50 people just like you to explore and understand the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA and Australia as potential markets for their products and services.

While everyone's experience is unique, these trips generate real benefits for the businesses that attend. Companies in the past have seen participants:

• sign commercial deals

• decide and accelerate entry into new markets

• meet critical in-market partners, investors and support services, and

• forge stronger connections within the NZ agri-community

The dates to align with Australia and New Zealand's largest horticulture conference and trade show - Hort Connections 2024 - in Melbourne this June.

This is likely to be the last market immersion we run 2024, so if you want to answer the question 'Is the Australian market right for you?' This trip might be your last chance.

Why join this Market Immersion?

If your business serves the horticulture sector and you are serious about starting or expanding your business into Australia in the next two years, you can't afford to miss this trip.

How much does it cost?

• Early Bird ticket: Is now Closed

• Regular Bird ticket: $1,200 + GST per person.

Estimated costs:

We expect the costs associated with this Market Immersion to be around (3.5k - includes market immersion ticket price) full budget can be found here.

NOTE: Estimated budget does not include: costs for Hort Connections and AusAgritech Events. Costs may differ depending on when you make your booking.

Is there Co-funding available?

Co-funding is available for eligible agritech companies.

The first eligibility criteria is that you have purchased a ticket, securing your spot on the Melbourne Hort Market Immersion.

What costs are covered by the Melbourne Hort Market Immersion ticket?

The ticket price includes:

• Accommodation on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May

• Meals - Wednesday dinner through to Friday lunch (but not beverages)

• Transport, meals and access to meeting and immersion activities on Monday 3 June

• Group transportation for site visits

• Snacks & refreshments

• Access to sites visited as part of The Melbourne Hort Market Immersion

• Entry to the Melbourne Hort Let’s Connect Networking Event at 3pm Sunday 2 June

What costs are not covered?

The ticket price does not include:

• Hort Connections 2024 tickets

• Flights & Travel Insurance

• All other meals, and all beverages

• Accommodation in Melbourne from Friday night

• Weekend activities (but we'll have suggestions)

Is there an itinerary?

We are still busy pulling together the agenda with full detail.

You can review our previous market immersion itineraries to get an idea of just how jam packed the days are:

• our recent WA Market Immersion in Feb 2024

• our USA market Immersion in June 2023

• the Hort Market Immersion in June 2023 to Adelaide

This is the proposed agenda - it is subject to change based on availability and timing.

Day 1: Wednesday 29 May

• Meet at Mantra Melbourne Epping Hotel | 250 Cooper Street, Epping (arriving no later than 3pm) 🎟️

• Welcome Dinner with Agriculture Victoria 🎟️

Day 2: Thursday 30 May

Melbourne Hort Market Immersion 🎟️ - Travelling from Melbourne to Shepparton

• Tahbilk Estate - Tahbilk is the oldest family owned winery and vineyard in Victoria. The family has been at the forefront of sustainability, ensuring Tahbilk’s rich heritage, winemaking style and unique natural environment. Situated within the traditional lands of the Taungurung people, tabilk-tabilk means place of many waterholes.

Day 3: Friday 31 May

Melbourne Hort Market Immersion 🎟️ - Travelling from Shepparton to Melbourne

• Tatura SmartFarm - is in the Goulburn Valley and is Australia’s leading horticulture SmartFarm research facility effectively linked to the Mildura SmartFarm, enabling research and innovation to deliver high-quality fruit from orchard to export market. They develop, use and demonstrate new applications of agricultural technology to achieve increases in marketable yield, product value and production efficiency in pears, apples, stone fruit and almonds.

• Gaia Project Australia - Gaia is a start-up agtech company that is dedicated to creating sustainable food production solutions that have no negative impact on the planet while addressing the growing demand for food to feed our increasing population. Their focus is on developing advanced crop cultivation solutions that are safe, efficient, and sustainable, using a combination of new and existing technologies.

• Arrive at Melbourne Hotel 💵

Day 4: Saturday 1 June

• Free day in Melbourne 💵

• Melbourne - Good Food & Wine Show

Day 5: Sunday 2 June

• Free morning 💵

• 3pm - 7pm Melbourne Hort Let's Connect Networking Event 🎟️

Day 6: Monday 3 June

Melbourne Hort Market Immersion 🎟️ - Travelling to Werribee and back

• Fresh Select and Nutri V - Fresh Select leads the way in industry innovation using sustainable farming techniques and responsible practices to ensure top quality produce to the highest food safety standard. Fresh Select is one of the largest lettuce and brassica farmers in Australia. Nutri V takes 100% Australian grown vegetables and turns them into nutrient dense, fibre-rich and protein fuelled vegetable powders.

• CSIRO Food Innovation Centre - makes it easy for food, ingredient and equipment manufacturing companies to access their extensive expertise, technologies and support in innovation. From adopting innovative technologies and improving process efficiency to creating high value products for new markets.

• 3pm - Hort Connections 2024 Welcome Event 🌿

Day 7: Tuesday 4 June

• Hort Connections 2024 Welcome Breakfast 🌿

• Hort Connections 2024 Trade Show & Conference🌿

Day 8: Wednesday 5 June

• Hort Connections 2024 Trade Show & Conference🌿

• Hort Connections 2024 Gala Dinner 🌿

Day 9: Thursday 6 June

• AusAgritech Investment Showcase Awards and Gala dinner 💵

Notes:

• Items with 🎟️ are included in the price of your Market Immersion ticket.

• Items with 🌿 should be considered when buying your Hort Connections 2024 ticket.

• Items with 💵 is to be funded by yourself.

Flights

We encourage you to get your flights booked now if you haven’t already.

When it comes to arrival, we recommend you fly in on Wednesday 29 February (arrival at the hotel no later than 3pm).

As for departure, we finish the market immersion on Monday 3 June, so it depends on if you are attending Hort Connections and the AusAgritech events.

Travel Insurance

Please ensure you have adequate coverage.

Accommodation

Your ticket price includes accommodation for Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May nights, which we will book for you.

From Friday 31 May until departure our team will be staying at The Waterfront Melbourne Apartments. You're welcome to join us here or find your own accommodation, however please note the bus for Monday 3 June will depart and drop off at this location.

The Waterfront Melbourne Apartments: Promo code: HORTCAL & Link

For other accommodation options - visit the Hort Connections accommodation page.

Bus Transport and Distances

We'll be renting a bus to travel around as a group. We will have some long distances to cover but will try to ensure you have a comfortable trip. We will have complimentary snacks and drinks available for you at all times and have a toilet and wifi available for you to use.

Co-funding

Callaghan Innovation will be funding a number of agritech companies, researchers and growers to attend this market immersion. You will be expected to pay for everything up front and will invoice us once you return. Please note you must attend: the premarket briefing Thursday 9 May 1-3pm and all activities planned for the Market Immersion (Wednesday 29 May through till Monday 3 June) to receive co-funding.

This event is part of our effort to supercharge New Zealand’s agritech sector with Agritech Activator