A host of experts including horticulture industry speakers and British explorer, journalist and TV presenter Simon Reeves are set to share their insights to how the horticultural industry could look by 2030 at the Horticultural Trade Association’s annual conference.
Horticulture, the Conference will scan the horizon for future trends and present both the challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s horticulture industry. The conference will explore areas such as the retail revolution, consumer insights, what garden design will look like nationally and globally and how automation, artificial intelligence and the metaverse could change the world we live in.
Keynote speaker will be Simon Reeves who will discuss how he sees the planet looking in 2030 and how the UK may be affected by this ‘big picture’. The journalist, who is also well known for his global travel and environmental documentaries, will be joined by other speakers and panellists at the conference which takes place in Birmingham at the ICC on Wednesday, September 14.
Among the speakers will be renowned economist, Vicky Pryce, from the Centre for Economics and Business Research in London; garden designer and Gardeners’ World co-presenter, Arit Anderson; garden designer and founder of the Grow2Know project, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, garden landscaper and 20-time Chelsea gold medal winner, Mark Gregory, celebrity gardener, Michael Perry, The Plant Geek, Tim Briercliffe, secretary general of the International Association of Horticultural Producers; and Dominic Harrison and Josh McBain from global consumer trends agency, Foresight Factory.
James Barnes, HTA Chairman, said: “We are extremely pleased to have attracted such a high calibre of speakers who, through their diverse areas of expertise, will help the horticultural industry glean crucial insights to how it can continue to look forward and adapt in a rapidly-changing world – and achieve its environmental goals.
“This year’s conference puts key issues such as upskilling, enhanced technology and how the industry operates on the agenda with our expert speakers and panellists offering their views and predictions on what the next eight years hold for horticulture.”
HTA’s conference provides a platform for delegates to network with industry peers, discuss key issues and innovations, and look at ways of working together as well as other opportunities. There will be a dinner for additional networking opportunities at which the UK Grower Awards will be presented.
The last conference was held in 2019 on Cultivating Retail, which looked at how sustainability can bring opportunity for the garden industry.
The 2022 conference takes place at The International Convention Centre, Birmingham. For more information and tickets, visit: https://hta.org.uk/horticulture-the-conference
