WABCG 2025 Australia

Program

Monday 23 June
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Welcome Drinks at 5.30pm at the Poolside Beach Area at Crystalbrook Riley

Wednesday 25 June
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Session 5 – Geopolitics & trade agreements: back in the game? – Chair: Guillaume Gandon, CGB (France) and Vice-President WABCG
9.00-9.20 - Ukraine in Europe: chance or challenge? - Alexis Patry, CEO, ARTB (France)
9.20-9.40 - Australia trade policy in the coming years- free and fair? - Justin Maroccia, Australian Farm Institue (Australia) 
9.40-10.00 - ‘Mirror clauses’: an opportunity to regulate trade? - Elisabeth Lacoste, CEO, CIBE (Europe)
10.00-10.20 - Discussion    
10.20-10.50: Morning Tea 
Session 6 – Diversifying outlets: new projects on track! – Chair: Beatrice Anyango Odiwa, Kenya Sugar Board (Kenya)
10.50-11.10 - Electricity production in Australia: a new challenge? - Ash Salardini, CEO, Australian Sugar Manufacturers (Australia)  
11.10-11.30 - Aviation fuel from sugarcane: dream or reality? - Adam Douglas, Industrial Manager, Jet Zero Australia (Australia)
11.30-11.50 - Sugarbeet pulps: past projects & new projects? - Arwin Bos, President, Cosun (Netherlands)
11.50-12.10 - Discussion    
12.10-13.10: Lunch 
Session 7 – A view from the neighbouring countries – Past Chair: Paul Schembri – CANEGROWERS Australia
13.10-13.30 - The sugar sector in the Philippines - Maria-Regina Bautista Martin, Corporate Secretary of CONFED (Philippines)
13.30-13.50 - Situation of the sugar sector in Thailand - Rangsit Hiangrat, CEO of Thai Sugar Millers (Thailand)
13.50-14.10 - Fijian cane growers’ welfare and initiatives - Vimal Dutt, CEO, Sugar Cane Growers Council (Fiji)
14.10-14.25 - Discussion 
Session 8 – People – at the heart of agriculture – Chair: Owen Menkens - CANEGROWERS Australia
14.25-14.55 - The Science of practice change - John Pickering, Chief Behavioural Scientist (Australia)
14.55-15.25 - Collaboration to deliver practice change - Terry Granshaw, SRA 
15.25-15.55 - Social licence – keeping the community on side - Dan Galligan, CEO, CANEGROWERS Australia
15.55-16.10 - Discussion
Session 9 – WABCG Australia Technical Field Trip
16.10-16.25 - Preview of Technical Tour - Dan Galligan, CEO, CANEGROWERS Australia 
Session 10 – WABCG Council – Chair: David Thompson
16.25-17.30 - Private session for WABCG members only
Gala dinner (including accompanying persons), Ochre Restaurant, Cairns Marina – 18.00 

Thursday 26 June
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07.30 - Board the bus at Crystalbrook Riley drive up to the Tableland
09.00 - Visit Jack Murat coffee plantation to see diverse cropping, irrigation and farming practices. Morning tea is provided onsite.
10.30 - Drive to Brays Farming sugarcane farm
10.40 - Visit cane farm to see irrigation, harvesting and farming practices
12.00 - Drive to Tinaroo dam - the water resource that supplies the Tableland district
12.40 – Lunch
14.00 – Drive to John Ferrando's Gordonvale cane farm
15.15 - Visit cane farm to see coastal farming practices including Sugar Research Australia's variety trials onsite
16.30 - Drive back to Crystalbrook Riley via Cairns Sugar Terminal

Partner's program - Tuesday 24 June
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08:00 am Board the bus at Crystalbrook Riley to visit Kuranda via the skyrail

  • Kuranda Skyrail
  • Visit Kuranda Village in the rainforest
  • Rainforest Markets
  • Australian Butterfly / Wildlife Sanctuary  

1:00 - 2.:00 pm - Lunch at Kuranda Hotel – provided

  • Kuranda Koala Gardens
  • Kuranda Historic Train journey return to Cairns

Includes transportation, a guide and hydration

Partner's program - Wednesday 25 June
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8.30am - Departure from Crystalbrook Riley
9:00 am - 1:00 pm

  • Cairns Historical Walking Tour
  • Cairns Aquarium

1.00pm- Lunch at Dundees Restaurant inside Cairns Aquarium – provided  

2:00 pm

  • Free time to peruse Cairns CBD and shopping