- Minister for Agriculture
Victoria will host world leaders in sustainability, agriculture and trade this week, with the Andrews Labor Government’s Global Table event tackling the big discussions on climate change and building an innovative food sector.
Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes and Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula today opened Global Table at the Melbourne Showgrounds, bringing together international experts from today until Friday to discuss the biggest food challenges facing the world.
Making up 27 per cent of all Australian food and fibre exports, Victoria is the country’s largest exporter in the sector. The Labor Government has set a target to grow the state’s $14.1 billion agricultural exports to $20 billion by 2030 – and events like Global Table will play a major part in the state’s success.
The event will welcome 2500 delegates from 25 countries with key discussions centring on reducing global food waste, kickstarting the Australian native food industry, adapting to the challenges of plastics through innovation, and disrupting climate change.
Global Table welcomes over 100 emerging Australian companies – with 90 from Victoria – to showcase their food and beverage products and innovations to an international delegation of almost 100 food and beverage buyers.
Keynote speakers at the event include former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Chief Agricultural Officer at Mars Inc Dr Howard-Yana Shapiro and food technology entrepreneur Shama Sukul-Lee who will lead discussions on the future of food, and how industries across the world can work together to improve the sector.
The Labor Government is leading a coordinated, national response to the effects of climate change on agriculture, and how to best position the sector for future success.
Victoria’s vibrant food innovation sector is ranked in the top 25 in the world for talent and top 20 for connectedness and has been supported by an Australian-first Food Innovation Network with over 700 active members, connecting forward-thinking food businesses across the state.
As noted by Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes
“We’re leading the nation in developing solutions to climate change in agriculture – we’re excited to bring world leaders to Victoria to solve these universal challenges and embrace the opportunities ahead of us.”
“Global Table gives us the chance to hear from some of the world’s brightest minds about how we can make sure our agriculture sector remains sustainable.”
As noted by Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula
“Our agriculture sector employs more than 230,000 Victorians – events like Global Table will only help us grow exports and maintain our reputation as a world leader in food.”
