Media release – AusVeg, 8 June 2023
Horticulture industry’s best and brightest recognised at Hort Connections Horticulture Awards for Excellence
The Australian horticulture industry’s best and brightest have been recognised in the 2023 Horticulture Awards for Excellence, presented on Wednesday 7 June at the Hort Connections Gala Dinner in Adelaide.
Over 1500 horticulture industry members from around the country came together at the Adelaide Convention Centre to celebrate the significant contributions of nine of the sector’s leading growers, researchers and suppliers.
The annual Horticulture Awards for Excellence are the industry’s most prestigious honours, and cover a range of areas in horticulture, including recognising outstanding growers in multiple categories, as well as researchers, innovative agribusinesses and the industry’s leading exporters.
“Australia’s horticulture industry is privileged to have some of the world’s most innovative and hard-working growers, businesses and researchers. The Horticulture Awards for Excellence provide an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the incredible contributions of these industry leaders,” said AusVeg CEO Michael Coote.
“The horticulture sector is critical to the health and wellbeing of Australians and their families. Our award winners not only lift the capability and sustainability of our industry, but they also exemplify the great work Australian horticulture undertakes to ensure and improve the community’s access to healthy, safe food.”
“There was a very impressive list of award nominees this year, each of whom has made a valuable contribution to the industry and demonstrated very clear passion and commitment. I would like to congratulate each of them, and especially our winners, and thank them all for their continued dedication to our industry.”
The winners of the Hort Connections 2023 National Awards for Excellence were as follows:
- Pirrone Brothers, QLD – Syngenta Grower of the Year
- Robert Arvier, West Pine Ag, Tas – Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year
- Angela Ruffo, Tripod Farmers Group, Vic – Boomaroo Nurseries Women in Horticulture Award
- Frank Frappa, Premier Fresh Australia, Vic – Hort Innovation Exporter of the Year
- Michael Rettke, SARDI, SA – Bayer Researcher of the Year
- Bruce Scott, Campbells Fertiliser, Vic – Visy Industry Impact Award
- Allan McGann, drumMASTER (Agsafe), NSW – E.E. Muir & Sons Community Stewardship Award
- Fresh Select, Vic – Butler Market Gardens Environment and Sustainability Award
- Kylie Hall, Hectre, NZ – UPL Tech Innovation Award
The Horticulture Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner was the capstone event of Hort Connections 2023, the premier event in Australian horticulture. Delegates came together at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the three-day event, which featured a trade show with over 200 local and global supply chain partners and presentations from the industry’s leading thinkers.
Sustainability advocate Robert Arvier wins Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year
Tasmanian vegetable grower Robert Arvier has been presented with the Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year award at the Hort Connections 2023 Horticulture Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner in Adelaide on Wednesday 7 June.
The Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year award is presented to a fresh produce grower and future leader in horticulture who champions the success of the industry and shows a dedication to innovation to help inspire the next generation of growers. The award winner demonstrates a high level of commitment to the industry and helps to enrich their community.
Corteva Agriscience is the only major agriscience company completely dedicated to agriculture. By combining the strengths of DuPont Pioneer, DuPont Crop Protection and Dow AgroSciences, Corteva harnesses agriculture’s brightest minds and expertise gained over two centuries of scientific achievement.
Robert is the Managing Director and co-founder of West Pine Ag, an irrigated vegetable grower on the north-west coast of Tasmania producing potatoes, onions, carrots, onions and brassicas. Robert has been a vocal champion of sustainable farming practices, leading the way through adoption of renewable energy and carbon reduction opportunities for farms in particular.
“Robert has become one of the industry’s leading advocates for sustainable farming practices, setting an example for other growers and bringing to life some truly exciting initiatives,” said AusVeg CEO Michael Coote.
“In only four years, Robert has developed a thriving diversified farming business focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability. He has managed or invested in forward-thinking projects developing new technologies for on-farm energy generation from crop residues, yeast-based fertiliser production, localised weather forecasting and many others.
“Robert was also awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 2017, completing a feasibility study into sugar beet production in south-eastern Australia,” said Mr Coote.
“I congratulate Robert on his award and his passion for and leadership in improving sustainable farming practices. The kind of work Robert is doing is critical to the future of our industry.”
Hort Connections 2023 is a joint initiative between AusVeg and the International Fresh Produce Association of Australia-New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ).
Featured image above: Nick Koch from Corteva Agriscience and Robert Arvier. Photographer Andrew Beveridge.
