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 (HTA) 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
