Australian Pulse Conference 2016
The Australian Pulse Conference (APC) will be held in Tamworth NSW from 12 to 14 September 2016 to coincide with the 2016 International Year of Pulses (IYP). The success of the inaugural PBA Pulse Conference held in 2013, which was attended by almost 200 delegates including a number of international attendees, inspired the pulse research community to ensure that the next national conference continues to promote the value of research and development within the pulse value chain, hence the formation of the Australian Pulse Conference (APC).
Themed Feed the Farm, Feed the World, the conference will have a scientific focus aligned with the International Year of Pulses. It aims to heighten awareness of the benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production to deliver food security and nutrition; and to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges of growing and delivering quality Australian pulses.
The APC will be run over three days – with a research focus day, a production/industry focus day and, uniquely, a field day providing an opportunity to examine Australian pulse research as it is occurring. Internationally respected crop physiologist and agronomist Dr Vincent Vadez, Principal Scientist, ICRISAT will be the scientific guest keynote speaker at the conference. Dr Vadez’s group at ICRISAT works on the genetic and mechanistic deciphering of plant traits, and of trait-environment interactions, contributing to drought adaptation of both cereals and legumes species. His research has also contributed a quantum leap in the approach to understand the role of roots in drought adaptation.
President and Chief Executive Officer of global pulse company AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., Murad Al-Katib, is the industry guest keynote speaker. In 2001, Mr Al-Katib founded Saskcan Pulse Trading, providing the nucleus for AGT and growing the company to a world leader in value-added pulses, staple foods and ingredients with revenues exceeding $1.4 billion in 2014, customers in over 100 countries and with 34 manufacturing facilities on five continents. With his varied experience at AGT, Murad has proven himself to be a strong financial and strategic business thinker, able to anticipate and mitigate the risks in international trading and commodities.
The perspectives of both international guest speakers will greatly enhance the conference program and assist in attracting a wide audience from the pulse value chain to conference. In recognition of the International Year of Pulses, there will be a half-day workshop on the industry focus day. This session will bring together a broad cross section of society to address issues related to the pulse industry. Under the theme of “Farm to Table”, a panel will be assembled that has expertise in International markets and trade, Australian primary production, Australian domestic consumption, end-user quality considerations and nutritional aspects of pulses. Presentations will be followed by an interactive forum discussion on pulse production and consumption and future opportunities for the Australian and global pulse industry.
The conference will mainly target a scientific audience while the IYP workshop provides appeal to a broader cross section of the pulse value chain. To date several sponsors have been secured and given past experience we expect to run a successful and well attended conference. The APC is a key activity as part of Australia’s celebration of “The International Year of Pulses”.
Program outline:
Sunday 11th Sept: Registration; Conference Welcome Function
Mon 12th Sept: Registration; Research Focus Day
Tues 13th Sept: Production/Industry Focus Day; International Year of the Pulse ½ day workshop; Conference Dinner
Wed 14th Sept: Field day – Bus tour to several pulse field sites and talks; Field Day Dinner