As part of the AIPH Meeting Sydney 2026, running from March 8 to 12 in Sydney, Australia, the International Association of Horticultural Producers and Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) will convene industry leaders on March 10 to explore the impacts of a changing climate and market trends. This AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference seeks approaches to confront these challenges and chart a more effective way forward.
The Conference comes as the global horticulture industry enters a heightened pressure period, driven by factors like intensifying climate volatility, tightening water supplies, rising biosecurity risks, and increasingly unpredictable markets, which are forcing the industry to move beyond mere discussions and seek more viable solutions.
Adapting to the Environmental and Economic Disruptions
As climate pressure, resource constraints, and biosecurity risks reshape the global horticulture landscape, producers are forced to adapt. With the added pressure of changing market demands, the sector faces a difficult future to navigate.
This Horticultural Industry Conference, a key component of the wider AIPH Meeting Sydney 2026, therefore draws growers, suppliers, researchers, and policymakers from around the world and is open to both AIPH members and non-members. The conference promises open discussions on adapting to environmental and economic disruptions in ornamental horticulture.
The first part of the Conference investigates how producers can implement best practices to adapt to increasing water pressures. This session also explores national plant health schemes and how to protect ornamental horticulture from biosecurity risks.
In the second part, delegates have the opportunity to explore the shifting consumer expectations, evolving supply chains, and new market opportunities, setting the stage for a discussion on the future of horticulture globally. Finally, the Conference concludes with a focus on advocacy for the industry, sharing the best practices on public and government relations in support of the industry.
Climate Adaptation Strategies
The conference opens with a focus on climate-related challenges affecting ornamental horticulture. Matt Kean, Chair of Australia’s Climate Change Authority, is expected to deliver the keynote, outlining the pressing environmental pressures facing the sector, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource constraints.
Sessions are expected to explore strategies for building resilience across the industry, with speakers like Eduardo Barbosa from Hort Innovation and Chris Philpott, CEO of The Water Conservancy, sharing insights into useful approaches for climate adaptation.
Biosecurity also features on the agenda, with Celeste Cook from Greenlife Industry Australia and Matt Dolan, CEO of New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated, offering insights on aspects like national programs to safeguard plant health under changing conditions.
Confronting Market Dynamics
Later, the agenda moves to evolving market trends and consumer expectations, where speakers, including Mike Mehigan, CEO of Greenlife Industry NSW, and Nick Hutchinson, Chair of Greenlife Industry Australia, discuss how the industry can respond to changing demand and supply chain challenges.
International perspectives are expected to be provided by Elyse Allum of Hort Innovation and Victor Santacruz, CEO of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, while Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President and Past President of ANVE, Italy, provides a wider industry perspective. The conference, then, concludes with a focus on advocacy and industry collaboration.
Addressing the Real Challenges Facing Ornamental Horticulture
Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General of AIPH, emphasized the event’s importance, noting that it provides a dynamic forum for addressing the real challenges facing ornamental horticulture globally.
AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe:
“By sharing international insight and practical experience, the Conference supports informed decision-making and helps the industry adapt to an increasingly complex operating environment.”
Notably, the AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference is organized with the support of Greenlife Industry Australia, AIPH’s member in Australia, alongside Headline Sponsor Biblo. Registration for the event is open via the AIPH event page.
Feature image by @kwekerijvicini. Header image by @selectaonena.
