Engaging, interactive and informative discussion at WA Think Tank Workshop
The first of the AOA’s Olive Industry Think Tank Workshops has been held, with WA growers enjoying a jam-packed afternoon of information, ideas and discussion around a range of industry topics and current issues.
Presented by AOA CEO Michael Southan, the event saw a dozen WA producers settle down to learn, question and gain ideas from the Association and their peers.
“The smaller group allowed for an intimate setting and there was great interaction from the outset,” Southan said.
“We started off talking about some bigger picture issues like the Middle Eastern crisis and fuel prices, and an overview of the olive oil situation in Australia – including the increasing area of grove plantings. We also took a live look at the Australian Tree Crop Map, looking at the information on one of the attendee’s groves, Chapman River Olives, as an example.
“We talked about alternative energy options for lowering operational costs, looking at case studies from a recent conference in Albury. There’s a lot being done by farmers via solar, wind and gas, and it can be as simple as bi-directional charging and software programs for economical charging and sales to grid. People found that really interesting.
“Also in terms of fertilizing: being able to generate nitrogenous fertilisers from air via modular system; and biogas systems producing ammonia which is then used as a fertilizer. There was some really good discussion around that.
‘We talked about the olive levy – how it works, who pays, the cut-off levels etc – and then moved into labelling. There was a lot of discussion about labelling, and great input into the issues involved and how to get it right.”
Southan said it was a great start to the program of state-based events, which are replacing the 2026 National Olive Conference & Exhibition due to the increased costs of travel amidst the global fuel supply crisis.
“The Think Tanks are a bit of an experiment and I think both the program and structure worked well. Most of the discussion occurred as we went and we certainly didn’t have any time to spare,” he said.
“There was great engagement from and between the group, and feedback was that they really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. They found it interesting, asked a lot of questions, and went home with new ideas, maybe some solutions and plenty to think about.”
About the AOA Olive Industry Think Tank Workshops
Delivered by the Australian Olive Association, the Think Tank workshops are designed to bring growers of all levels of experience and knowledge together in their home states. They provide the opportunity to update on important industry information, and network and engage with industry peers around shared challenges and problem-solving, without the commitment of costly, time-consuming interstate travel.
Each program features unique regional elements, while all events include interactive discussions on bottling, labelling, and quality standards, the olive levy roadmap and R&D investments, and an open forum for grower-raised topics. AIOA winners can also have an official photograph taken, and there’s a chance to relax over a drink at the closing networking session.
The cost for each event, including lunch and networking drinks/snacks, is just $55 for AOA Members & Levy Payers or $66 General Admission.
Register now for TAS, SA and NSW events
Registrations have closed for the Victorian event on 18 October, but are still open for Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales. Details are:
TAS Think Tank Workshop: plus optional Back to Basics Field Day
- B2B Field Day: covering site selection, varieties, irrigation, grove management, pruning, pests and diseases, harvest options and more.
Date: Tuesday, 27 October, 8:30am – 4:30pm.
- Think Tank Session as above.
Date: Wednesday, 28 October, 9:00am – 2:00pm.
Location: Cradle Coast Olives, 574 Castra Road, Abbotsham, Tasmania.
Registrations close: 20 October.
Full programs and registration here
SA Think Tank Workshop: Practical grove tech in action, paired with collaborative industry discussion.
- Live drone spraying demonstration and comparison of the results with conventional ground spraying; pruning demo and observations of tree recovery across past pruning stages.
- Think Tank Session as above.
Location: Peninsula Providore, 250 Bull Creek Rd, Tooperang
Date: Wednesday 4 November, 9:00am – 5:00pm.
Registrations close: 28 October.
Full program and register here.
NSW Think Tank Workshop: Details TBA
Help shape your local Think Tank
To ensure those local issues are truly reflected at each event, the AOA’s organising team want to know about the specific state-level challenges and agronomic barriers impacting your groves right now.
They’ve created a quick 5 question pre-event survey so you can nominate the real-world environmental, operational and pest/disease pressures unique to your region. It’ll take just 5 minutes, so please click through here and let your voice help drive the agenda.
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
R&D EVENT SPONSOR
The Think Tank events are part of the Olive levy project Australian olive industry communications and extension program (OL22000), funded by Hort Innovation, using the Hort Innovation olive research and development levy, co-investment from the Australian Olive Association and contributions from the Australian Government.