Featuring speakers from over 20 countries, this year’s Irrigation Australia Conference will deliver attendees an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the hottest topics in irrigation – both domestically and internationally. Importantly, the organisers have developed the conference program with an outlook on issues that will affect businesses, and the industry, over the next 12 months as well as the challenges faced by a still developing sector.

 

Running over four days the IAL Conference will offer seminars on essential irrigation topics with key speakers from government, agriculture, and horticulture, as well as environmental and landscape industries.

 

Commencing on Tuesday June 26, the Conference’s opening keynote address will be given by Hon Jay Wetherill, Premier of South Australia. Immediately following the Premier’s address, Gao Zhani, ICID President will present his address to the conference with a focus on the role of irrigation in feeding the world. Mid-morning sees the first of the paper presentations with content covering themes such as Integrated Water Management, Horticulture, Agriculture, Drainage and Flood Management, Water for the Environment, and Regional Co-operation. The sessions on Flood Management and Regional Cooperation are a new feature of conference this year and result from the incorporation of the ICID 7th Asian Conference into IALs annual event.

 

Presentation topics:

Integrated water management

• Modernisation of irrigation and drainage

• Benchmarking water delivery services

• Water accounting & IT

• Best business practice for irrigation water suppliers

 

Horticulture

• Urban and turf irrigation

• Production horticulture (fruit and vegetables)

• Best practice pressurised irrigation

 

Agriculture

• Food production (grains, oilseeds, etc)

• Fibre and pastures (cotton, hemp, etc)

• Multi- and inter-cropping

• Soil moisture and plant vigour monitoring

 

Drainage and flood management

• Waterlogging

• Salinity and water quality control

• Controlled drainage

• Flood recovery and risk management

 

Water for the environment

• Water needs assessments

• Competition and sharing of multiple use of water

• Wetland management and environmental water supply

 

Regional cooperation

• Knowledge dissemination and sharing

• Aid projects in urban and rural water management

• Globalism, regionalism, localism

 

Also not to be missed is the expansive Trade Show which will run alongside Irrigation Australia’s 2012 Conference. Occupying more than 5000 square metres, the Trade Show will feature companies such as irrigation equipment suppliers, importers, distributors and retailers all showcasing their products and services to the irrigation industry. Visitors are encouraged to register to attend the Trade Show via the website at www.irrigation.org.au/2012 Registration is also available on the day in person.

 

Commenting on the Conference program, Ian Atkinson, CEO of Irrigation Australia, said: “For both international and domestic delegates, the Conference program offers an excellent opportunity to hear from a diverse range of speakers on irrigation issues, as well as get up to speed with the latest developments in technology and management. Complemented by the biggest Trade Show in the southern hemisphere, we’re anticipating a very successful and exciting event for everyone involved”.

 

To review the complete presentation program, and register for the Conference or Trade Show, visit the official conference website at www.irrigation.org.au/2012/