The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is playing host to the 29th International Horticultural Congress (IHC 2014). Over 3,500 of the World’s leading horticulture experts from 100 countries have taken over the Centre to discuss all things horticultural, from fruit and vegetables to health and an improved environment.

This year’s congress marks the 150th anniversary of the event, which was first held in Brussels in 1864. It is also only the second time the event has taken place in the southern hemisphere.

The five-day event will encompass more than 40 symposia all under the theme of ‘Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes’. This will cover a range of topics such as the impact of vegetables as the first line of defense against certain diseases to the fact that eating makes the largest personal impact on the planet and with every meal served costing the planet 10 kilos of soil, 800 liters of fresh water and 1.3 liters of diesel fuel.

In addition, there will be four plenary sessions featuring eminent international speakers as well as workshops and business meetings, technical field trips and post congress tours, which are all included in the formal science program. Furthermore, 17 additional international meetings will be held at the Centre in conjunction with the Congress.

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