ONE thousand of the world’s foremost tropical researchers will gather in Cairns next year in a $5 million coup for the city.

The Cairns Convention Centre has snared the International Symposia on Tropical and Temperate Horticulture in November 2016.

Convention centre general manager Ross Steele said it would involve 1000 people with an economic benefit to the city of $5 million.

He said he was delighted to bring the event to the region.

“We are very proud to play a part in attracting meetings such as the International Symposia on Tropical and Temperate Horticulture,” Mr Steele said.

“While our region provides the canvas for innovative new research topics, the symposiums also bring significant two-way knowledge transfer and academic benefit to the horticultural business sector in Australia.”

Co-conveners Professor Rod Drew and Dr Robin Roberts said the decision to bring the conference to Tropical North Queensland was deliberate.

“Tropical North Queensland possesses the three drivers for horticulture success: quality products, proximity to target markets and well-developed supply chains,” they said.

“Sharing knowledge with and between eminent scientists and building capacity with emerging researchers in tropical and temperate horticulture makes Cairns the perfect destination for these exciting international symposiums. Cairns’ proximity to South-East Asia and the ability of the convention centre to host the nine symposiums were also important considerations.”

The event will incorporate nine separate international symposiums, some of which are established meetings and some are new to the horticultural science world.

The six-day program will explore topics such as beverage crops, tropical plant genomes, urban landscapes in tropical cities and poverty, hidden hunger and horticulture.

The conveners said stakeholders would “interact across the chain networks to share innovative new research outcomes linked to delivering economic benefits, productivity and profitability across the globe”.

“The rolling hills surrounding Cairns are covered in farmland producing everything from fruit, vegetables, herbs, tea and coffee,” they said.

“Combined with two university campuses and Australian government scientific facilities, the region provides outstanding options for the development of these innovative new research topics while offering skill development opportunities for local producers.”

The conveners said there would be competitions for local growers to exhibit their products.

This article was originally published in the Cairns Post. Read the original article.