Professor Salah Sukkarieh is the Professor of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the University of Sydney, and the Director of Research and Innovation at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics. His research focuses on field robotic systems and he has lead a number of research and development projects in logistics, environment monitoring and agriculture.

Sukkarieh’s talk on innovations in robotics and intelligent systems will be complemented by Steve Saunders of Robotics Plus in Tauranga, who will follow Professor Sukkarieh’s session with one focusing on unlocking the potential of robotics in horticulture.

They join a host of other top international speakers, such as Bill Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark, a food safety law firm in the United States, and Nadia Lim, a chef, food writer, and entrepreneur known worldwide as the ‘Nude Cook’.

The Horticulture Conference is a showcase for the entire industry, where more than 400 growers and industry suppliers attend to network, learn, and be inspired. 

This year’s theme, 'Innovate from seed to plate’, aims to interest and benefit the widest range of growers and horticulturalists, and will have an emphasis on technology and innovations that can assist us to further improve our growth and delivery of the world's best fruit and vegetables.

The Horticulture Conference will take place from August 3-5 at the Rutherford Hotel, Nelson. Registration, programme, accommodation, and further information are available on the conference website, www.thehorticultureconference.nz.