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 has a complex future to navigate. The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) will bring industry leaders together in Sydney to explore the impacts of a changing climate and market trends at the AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference on 10 March 2026.
Part of the AIPH Meeting Sydney 2026, the Horticultural Industry Conference will bring together experts to explore two defining forces reshaping the industry: a rapidly changing climate and an increasingly dynamic marketplace. The Conference is open to both AIPH members and non-members, bringing together growers, suppliers, researchers, and industry leaders from across the global horticulture sector.
The first part of the Conference will investigate how producers can implement best practices to adapt to increasing water pressures. This session will also explore national plant health schemes and how to protect ornamental horticulture from biosecurity risks.
In the second half of the Conference, delegates will also delve into shifting consumer expectations, evolving supply chains, and new market opportunities, setting the stage for a discussion on the future of horticulture worldwide. Finally, the Conference will conclude with a focus on advocacy for the industry; sharing best practice on public and government relations in support of the industry.
The Conference will open with a presentation by Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority in Australia, who will address the challenges of climate change and actions that need to be taken. Additional speakers and panellists include:
The Changing Climate
- Eduardo Barbosa, R&D Manager, Hort Innovation
- Celeste Cook, APPS Administrator and Extension Officer, Greenlife Industry Australia
- Matt Dolan, CEO, New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated (NZPPI)
- Chris Philpott, CEO, The Water Conservancy
The Changing Market & Advocating for the Industry
- Mike Mehigan, CEO, Greenlife Industry NSW
- Nick Hutchinson, Chair, Greenlife Industry Australia
- Elyse Allum, Hort Innovation
- Victor Santacruz, CEO, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
- Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President and Past President of ANVE, Italy
AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe commented: “The AIPH Industry Conference provides a vital forum for addressing the real challenges facing ornamental horticulture worldwide. By sharing international insight and practical experience, the Conference supports informed decision-making and helps the industry adapt to an increasingly complex operating environment.”
For more information and to register, visit the Event Page.
The AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference is organised with the support of Greenlife Industry Australia, AIPH’s member in Australia, alongside Headline Sponsor Biblo. AIPH also thanks Media Partners FloraCulture International, FloralDaily, Hort Journal Australia, and Thursd.
