2026 Agronomy Australia Conference
Darwin has taken centre stage as the host city for the 2026 Agronomy Australia Conference, bringing hundreds of agricultural researchers, agronomists, growers, advisers and industry professionals to the Northern Territory to explore the future of Australian agriculture.
Held from 24 to 26 August under the theme ‘Agronomy for a Diverse Future’, the conference is being hosted in Darwin for the first time in the 45-year history of Agronomy Australia.
The conference has provided a unique opportunity to showcase the Northern Territory’s diverse agricultural systems, research capability and opportunities for sustainable growth to a national audience.
The program has brought together experts from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Timor-Leste, China and India to discuss topics including tropical and arid-zone farming systems, horticulture, emerging technologies, sustainability, Indigenous knowledge and multidisciplinary agricultural science.
The conference culminates this week with field trips taking delegates out of the conference room and onto the land, giving participants first-hand experience of agricultural research, innovation and production in the Top End.
Two full-day field trips on 27 August are showcasing the Douglas Daly and Coastal Plains regions.
The Douglas Daly field trip includes a visit to the Douglas Daly Research Farm, a Northern Territory Government research and demonstration facility supporting beef and cropping development, as well as visits showcasing mixed farming, soil management, moisture monitoring, cotton, grain and crop–livestock integration.
The Coastal Plains field trip includes the Coastal Plains Research Station at Middle Point, where delegates can see the work supporting animal production, horticulture and pasture research, alongside visits to commercial turf and tropical horticulture operations.
Together, the field trips demonstrate the breadth of agricultural research and production systems across the Territory – from beef and cropping to horticulture, soils, pastures and emerging opportunities.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has played a leading role in bringing the conference to Darwin and is a platinum sponsor of the event.
DAF Senior Director Plant Industries Dr Muhammad Sohail Mazhar is serving as President of Agronomy Australia and has led the conference organising committee, working with industry, research, university and government partners to deliver the event.
Congratulations to Sohail and everyone involved in bringing this important national conference to the Northern Territory.
Hosting Agronomy Australia in Darwin is a significant opportunity to put the Territory’s agricultural research, industry expertise and future potential firmly on the national stage – while creating valuable connections between researchers, producers, industry and government.
The 2026 conference is a milestone for agronomy in the NT and a strong demonstration of the Territory’s role in shaping the future of Australian agriculture.
