evokeAG 2026: A Global Agrifood Event
By Bree Pagliuso|
In February 2026, the agrifood sector came together in Melbourne with a shared focus: turning innovation into real-world impact. Hosted at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), evokeAG, AgriFutures Australia’s flagship event, brings together the agrifood industry across the Asia Pacific, connecting ideas with investment and real-world use.
Fast Facts
A snapshot of scale, energy and impact. Here’s what came together on the ground.
1,536 delegates
144 speakers
116 exhibitors
104 sessions
3,100 Australian-grown and roasted coffees served
40 startups and 11 scaleups showcased
6 stages, breakout spaces and demonstration areas
All catering featured 100% Australian-grown and produced ingredients
Bringing the Agrifood Ecosystem Together
Built to go beyond conversation, the yearly event is designed to translate ideas into action. Across two days, it connected founders, investors and industry, bridging research and real-world application to drive meaningful progress.
Operating at the intersection of agriculture, technology, investment and policy, evokeAG accelerates innovation and supports its translation into tangible outcomes. In a rapidly changing global landscape, the focus remains on practical solutions, real-world application and measurable impact.
Turning Theme Into Action
Invest. Innovate. Impact. was the central theme and guiding mission of evokeAG 2026, shaping every part of the experience.
This annual event is where founders meet funders, research meets adoption and ideas progress into real-world solutions. Investment came through direct connections between startups, scaleups and investors. Innovation was visible across emerging technologies, from AI-led solutions to sustainable farming practices. Impact remained constant, grounding every conversation in what happens next and what it takes to move ideas forward.
The focus remained firmly on practical outcomes and real-world application, ensuring ideas didn’t stay contained to the event, but moved into conversation, collaboration and action outside of the conference.
Designed for Connection
From the outset, evokeAG 2026 was designed to bring people together in a way that felt active, not passive.
Delivered across six stages, including the Elders Plenary, breakout sessions, roundtables and demonstration formats, each space played a distinct role. Ideas moved from keynote sessions into smaller discussions, giving delegates the chance to explore, question and apply what they were hearing.
The Elders Plenary set the broader context, with sessions such as Tough questions: You ask, they answer and Sustainability by injection - Weight loss drugs and the future of food bringing complex challenges into focus. From there, workshops and interactive sessions created space for deeper engagement. This balance between strategic insight and practical discussion ensured delegates could connect with both the content and each other.
On the exhibition floor, Startup Alley introduced 40 startups and 11 scaleups through short-format demonstrations. These sessions gave delegates direct access to emerging ideas and the people behind them, creating clear pathways between innovation and investment.
In breakout areas, conversations shifted into real-world applications. Sessions such as Innovation uncut - Agritech wins, fails, and the lessons learned and Radical transparency - Rewiring the agrifood supply chain unpacked both opportunity and challenge, giving delegates practical insight into what it takes to move ideas forward.
Three core themes guided the program: Innovation and Future Technology, Environment and Sustainability, and Systems and Policy. Together, they offered a connected view of the agrifood landscape, reflecting how these areas intersect and influence one another.
What sets evokeAG apart is the mix of perspectives in the room. Government, producers, researchers, investors, startups and global delegates all contribute to a shared conversation, creating an environment where ideas can be tested, refined and progressed.
A Venue Built for Global Ideas
As MCEC celebrates 30 years of bringing industry-leading events to Melbourne, evokeAG 2026 reflects what the venue is designed to do.
Events like evokeAG require more than space. They need the scale, flexibility and expertise to support complex programs, multiple formats and high-value connections. From plenary sessions through to Startup Alley and demonstration spaces, MCEC provided the infrastructure to deliver the event seamlessly and at scale.
Victoria’s agricultural capability, combined with leading research institutions and a growing innovation landscape, added further depth to the event. Supported by MCEC’s experienced delivery teams, evokeAG 2026 was able to bring together global perspectives and turn them into practical outcomes.
This is what MCEC has built its reputation on over three decades.
Seamless by Design, Delivered at MCEC
What does it take to keep thousands of delegates connected, engaged and moving across a multi-day global event?
For evokeAG 2026, it started with a venue designed to make that feel effortless.
MCEC’s scale and flexibility enabled a purposeful event footprint, supported by clear signage, consistent branding and dedicated wayfinding staff. Delegates moved easily between the Elders Plenary, breakout sessions, exhibition spaces and Startup Alley, creating continuous opportunities for interaction and connection.
The experience extended beyond the venue. Nearby locations including Pan Pacific Melbourne, ZINC and Afloat were integrated into the program, allowing conversations to continue across networking events and social moments.
Food and beverage played a key role in reinforcing the event’s purpose. Menus featured Australian-grown ingredients and were designed to reflect the people, regions and systems behind the agrifood sector. Local sourcing and seasonality guided the approach, with ingredients such as Australian chicken, honey, rice, ginger and hazelnuts featured throughout. The Hour of Power networking event highlighted a curated Victorian drinks offering, connecting delegates to the region in a tangible way.
In partnership with MCEC, the event incorporated circular food systems, energy efficiency, food waste diversion and water reuse, alongside practical measures such as reusable signage, compostable coffee cups and the removal of single-use plastics. These initiatives aligned with the themes of the program and demonstrated sustainability in action.
Accessibility and inclusion were also prioritised. Complimentary onsite childcare supported attendance for parents and carers, while travel and accommodation partnerships improved access for interstate and international delegates. A dedicated event app enhanced the experience further, supporting navigation, networking and personalised scheduling.
Together, these elements delivered a seamless, well-connected experience, enabling evokeAG 2026 to operate at scale while remaining highly considered in every detail.
Impact Beyond the Event
Success was measured by outcomes beyond attendance. It was reflected in the strength of connections formed, the collaborations established and the ideas that moved into investment and industry adoption. evokeAG 2026 delivered a highly engaged community actively shaping the future of agriculture.
By bringing together producers, researchers, investors and innovators, the event strengthens pathways to commercialisation and reinforces Australia’s leadership in agrifood innovation across the Asia Pacific.