2026 Program Preview
Basics Of A Telescope
FARM PRODUCTIVITY
AND RISK
30 Years of Transgenic Cotton in Australia - looking back, looking forward.
Farming for Profit - benchmarking, evaluating farm investments, assets and generational change.
Fertilisers - how to grow high yielding, low emissions cotton, green fert, grower experiences.
Fibre and Seed Quality - growing the crop to maximise quality, the future of ginning, seed quality, density and higher yields.
Water Policy - Murray-Darling Basin review and what it might mean for Australian cotton growers, trends in the water market, fish screens, grower experiences.
Moon Gazing
SUSTAINABILITY
AND CLIMATE
Sustainability, Traceability and Data - responding to global legislation, markets and risk with a roadmap delivering grower and industry value.
Natural Capital - measuring it, valuing it, protecting it and managing emerging risks like feral pigs.
Raingrown Cotton - optimum planting times and plant configuration by region, new CSIRO drylands varieties, how and when to optimise plant nutrition needs, experiences from Northern Australia.
Climate - the trials and tribulations of weather forecasting, making sense of the weather, long term climate analysis.
Carbon - soil carbon and productivity, tech for measuring impact, technical considerations, what the market wants.
Glossary Of Stars
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Innovation Pitches - 12 of the best blue sky thinking and tech solutions, from AI driven drones to lightning powered seed technology.
Irrigation - latest research, benchmarking, automation and tech, water profitability and efficiency, grower case studies.
Australian Cotton Disease Collaboration presents irrigation and nutrition management to reduce wilt disease, pathogen collection and diagnostics, rotation trials in the Namoi and fungicide resistance + a grower panel.
Weeds - trends in herbicide resistance and resistance management, getting the most out of glufosinates, the importance of residuals in weed management diversity.
Entomology - future fit pesticides, global scan of crop protection technology, novel biological products, changing market expectations.
Ag Tech - AI, 3D printing of machinery parts, autonomy, robotics.
Basics Of A Telescope
PEOPLE
AND SKILLS
The Evolving Role of the Agronomist - the use of AI in crop consulting, digital platforms, environmental measurements.
Health and Wellbeing - Trade Mutt founders, Beyond Blue and how it supports regional communities, psychological safety, growing your business and your people, farm safety and tools for managing people on farm.
Moon Gazing
MARKETS
AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
A Look at the Market - navigating the global economy, demand outlook, geopolitical implications, price volatility and evolving trade flows.
Future Farming for Competitiveness - AI on Aussie farms, case study on autonomy from the U.S, how defence tech can be applied to ag.
Reflections on Brazil - a close look at one of Australia's greatest competitors including insights from the field, the global context and a panel discussion.
Marketing Australian Cotton - Bulls and Bears - a live debate with global cotton market experts.
Brand and Consumer Insights - what consumers value, influencing brand decisions, circularity and microplastics.
Glossary Of Stars
OPENING AND
CLOSING SESSIONS
Mark Bouris - Australian Entrepreneur and Innovator.
Alyssa Healy - Australian women's cricket captain on teamwork, and being an elite female athlete.
ANZ Presentation TBC.
We're Working on
the Program
The Australian Cotton Conference Committee is working on an exciting three day program of engaging and expert speakers - sharing data, knowledge, cutting edge research and practical farm-level advice.
This year’s program will be built around five key pillars:
- Farm Productivity & Risk
- Sustainability
- Innovation & Technology
- People & Skills
- Markets & Global Competitiveness
The official program will appear here a few months before the event, so please check back for updates.
