Supported by the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, 10 emerging thought leaders within Australian and New Zealand agriculture and food industries will be selected to attend the first evokeAG event in February in Melbourne.

AgriFutures Australia is organising the event, and managing director John Harvey said emphasis would be placed on recognising and supporting outstanding talent when making a selection.

“The future of food and farming is agile, entrepreneurial and commercially savvy and the evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program is about harnessing those qualities and elevating our thought leaders to the next level,” Mr Harvey said.

Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations executive officer Tim Lester said this program supported young forward-thinkers to gain the skills, research and know-how to keep Australia’s rural industries thriving.

“We know diversity is the future and we want to hear what the next generation of leaders are passionate about,” Mr Lester said.

“The evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program is for any young person in food, fibre or foliage with bold thinking, passion and bright ideas about our exciting future.”

Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents aged between 18 and 30 years. For more information visit www.evokeag.com, with applications closing on October 12