• Charles Sturt and AgriPark to host the Digital Agrifood Summit on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 September
• The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has announced the NSW Government’s Farms of the Future program as the major event partner
• The two-day event will bring together experts from across the globe to discuss the future of agriculture and industry challenges

Leading agriculture experts from across the globe will meet at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga to discuss the latest technologies and industry challenges at the Digital Agrifood Summit.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has announced that the NSW Government’s Farms of the Future program will be the major event for the 2025 summit on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 September.

The Farms of the Future program is committed to helping farmers embrace technology for increased productivity, market competitiveness, managing increasing climate risks and better resource management.

Charles Sturt has a long history with agricultural innovation, from its inception as the experimental farm in 1892 in Wagga Wagga to establishing Australia’s first fully automated commercial Global Digital Farm.

Charles Sturt’s Agrisciences Research and Business Park (AgriPark) has collaborated with DPIRD and the NSW Government to host this event in Wagga Wagga for the fourth year.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Renée Leon said the event will bring together higher education, government and industry to shape Australia’s digital agricultural future.

“Charles Sturt University is proud to partner with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to host an important event on Australia’s agricultural calendar,” she said.

“The 2025 Digital Agrifood Summit will bring together experts from across the world to discuss the future of Australian agriculture and learn about the latest, state-of-the-art technologies and innovations that are solving the industry’s challenges.

“According to the Australian Government, the gross value of Australia’s agricultural production was $71.5 billion in 2023-24. This supports almost 270,000 jobs and sustains entire communities in regional Australia.

“Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga has a long history of agricultural education and research innovation that supports this output and will continue to do so as the industry pushes towards its stated goal of becoming a $100 billion industry by the end of the decade.”

A series of immersion sessions will be held on day one to allow primary producers to learn about the latest technology and how it can be implemented on their farms to improve profitability, productivity and sustainability.

The range of activities on offer will include the Farms of the Future Program Agtech Fundamentals training course, providing a hands-on introduction to producers looking to adopt Agtech solutions for their farm businesses. This training provides farmers the opportunity to review the needs of their properties and establish the know-how to plan and integrate optimal connectivity and Agtech on their farms.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Farms of the Future Manager Ms Ailie Webb said the team are thrilled to be the major partner of the event.

“We look forward to connecting with producers, suppliers and innovators to showcase how smart technologies can transform farm operations,” she said.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the real-world benefits of Agtech and support farmers in building more resilient, productive and sustainable businesses.”

The 2025 theme is ‘Securing Australia’s AgriFood Future’. The summit will serve as a national touchpoint for Australia’s food system transformation, by highlighting existing market solutions and potential opportunities to shape Australia’s food future.