Future vision – expected impacts of climate change on intensive horticulture.

Gerard McEvilly, E3 international

Summary

Over the last couple of years there has been a growing avalanche of information, comment and debate about climate change and what we should do about it. It is time to separate facts from hot air, to understand the potential impact of climate change itself, as well as climate change policy, on production, the supply chain and the marketplace. This presentation considers potential risks and opportunities presented by the two broad responses available to us – Mitigation or Adaptation – from the perspective of the protected cropping sector.

Bio

Gerard McEvilly BSc (Hons), MBA (Technology Management)

Gerard McEvilly indulged his passion for horticulture for nearly fifteen years with Horticulture Australia Limited, managing around a thousand projects over that time. He also headed up the Sustainable Development team leading programs such as "Horticulture for Tomorrow" and the Horticulture Water Initiative. These days Gerard works with teams specialising in supply chain and climate change.

He also lectures at Sydney Uni and recently compiled a Rural Press education supplement. Gerard is honorary secretary for the International Horticulture Congress in Brisbane in 2014, hoping this can help trigger a wave of enthusiasm for horticultural technology over the next five years.