EvokeAG 2025:
Brisbane hosts Asia Pacific's leading agrifood innovation event
Brisbane has cemented its reputation as a global hub for agribusiness innovation and research by hosting evokeAG the premier agrifood technology event in the Asia Pacific.
Held at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) on 18-19 February 2025, the event attracted nearly 2,000 delegates from 27 countries, making it the largest and most internationally diverse evokeAG to date.
Bringing together farmers, researchers, investors, startups, and policymakers, evokeAG is a launchpad for agrifood technologies and a platform for tackling the sector’s most pressing challenges.
The 2025 theme, ‘Common Ground’, set the stage for a bold, solutions-driven agenda, with more than 95 speakers addressing sustainability, climate resilience, workforce skills, emerging technologies and trade. Brisbane provided the perfect backdrop for this vibrant exchange of ideas and investment, reinforcing its position as a premium destination for hosting influential industry events.
Where agriculture, innovation and access converge
Brisbane brought the right ingredients to the table to host evokeAG 2025. Flanked by the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley – regions that form Queensland’s lush food bowl – the city sits at the heart of one of Australia’s most productive and diverse agricultural zones.
Home to a $23 billion agriculture industry, with the Queensland Government paving the way to boost primary industries production to $30 billion by 2030, Queensland is a powerhouse of agribusiness and agritech innovation. With the highest proportion of land managed for agriculture in Australia, the state boasts a thriving agritech ecosystem fuelled by research excellence, startups and global innovators.
“Brisbane was the ideal location for evokeAG because there is a strong agritech community here,” says John Harvey, Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia. “The city is home to significant research and innovative startups, with a real focus on driving innovation.”
Brisbane’s accessibility, world-class facilities, and subtropical climate enhanced the delegate experience. The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre offered a seamless event experience, with hotels, restaurants and riverfront venues within walking distance. The city’s compact layout, efficient transport and warm climate made it easy for delegates to connect, explore and enjoy its vibrant cultural attractions and outdoor lifestyle.
“Brisbane provided the perfect backdrop for evokeAG 2025,” says Harvey. “It’s a beautiful, welcoming city with everything you need — great facilities, a great climate, and plenty for delegates to enjoy beyond the event itself. We’ve had a fabulous experience.”
Making it happen: BEDA's strategic support
Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) played a critical role in securing and shaping evokeAG, working hand-in-hand with AgriFutures and the Queensland Government as Host City Partner. Through its integrated agency model, combining Business Events and Investment Attraction, BEDA delivered tailored support across event strategy, stakeholder engagement, programming and delegate experience.
“Working with the Brisbane Economic Development Agency was really a dream,” says Harriet Mellish, General Manager, Global Innovation Networks at AgriFutures. “We were an extension of each other’s teams. They worked in partnership both with AgriFutures and the Queensland Government to make sure we delivered a fantastic experience for delegates before, during and after the event.”
Beyond strategic planning, BEDA also provided on-the-ground support for event organisers, exhibitors, and business-to-business connections. They helped shape the program and secure venues across the city for a record 54 sideline events, ranging from an Innovation Showcase hosted by Beanstalk Ag at Howard Smith Wharves to a Team Queensland Breakfast delivered by the Department of of Primary Industries at Rydges South Bank Brisbane, and a documentary screening by CarbonLink at the State Library of Queensland. This diverse program ensured seamless delegate movement and vibrant engagement throughout Brisbane.
“What I love about the BEDA team is their can-do attitude,” says Kym Coyne, Director, AgTech, Innovation, Partnerships & Skills Policy at the Department of Primary Industries. “They’ve been extraordinary with stakeholders, from facilitating meaningful connections to helping find the right venues and navigate the city. They’re professional and always supportive.”
By aligning its business events expertise with investment attraction strategies, BEDA helped position evokeAG as not just a conference, but a catalyst for industry growth, securing new partnerships and investment that will shape the future of agrifood innovation in Brisbane and beyond.
Tangible outcomes, lasting impact
For the nearly 2,000 delegates, evokeAG 2025 in Brisbane delivered real return on investment. Tailored experiences, accessible venues and curated networking translated into real-time deal-making, international collaborations, and accelerated partnerships.
Local innovators like Carbonaught and Australian Country Choice, both recent winners of Lord Mayor's Business Awards and alumni of BEDA’s Future Food Accelerator, took centre stage, showcasing Queensland’s leadership in agrifood innovation to a global audience.
Every 10 minutes we had a new grower, a new government representative, or someone from the supply chain coming to our stall,” says Andrew Pedley, Co-founder and CEO of Brisbane-based Carbonaught. It was a great validation exercise for our product, and the BEDA team was incredibly helpful in connecting us to the opportunity and profiling us. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.
Investment flowed directly from the event floor, with startups like Rainstick securing $3 million in seed funding, and Mandalay Ventures gaining its first strategic investor, Segi Fresh. New partnerships were formed between industry, government and research institutions, laying foundations for long-term collaboration.
The event’s influence extends well beyond its two-day program – evokeAG 2025 will leave a lasting legacy, strengthening Brisbane’s position as a driving force in agrifood innovation.
“We’re not an entertainment activity,” says Harvey. “We’re about leaving a legacy. Everything we’ve done over the past 12 months has been about building the ecosystem here in Queensland.”
In addition to the business and collaboration partnerships developed, evokeAG 2025 also generated more than 800 media mentions, profiling Brisbane based agribusiness capabilities to a global audience of 38.5 million.
With a globally significant agribusiness sector, strong institutional partnerships, and end-to-end support from BEDA, Brisbane is more than a world-class host for agriculture events – it is where bold ideas connect with opportunity and create impact.
Get in touch with the Business Events Team at Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) to explore hosting your next event in Brisbane.
